By Keziah G. Huelar

Engr. Angel Lanuza of PHIVOLCS together with Mr. Mark Clemens J. Ortaliz, Mr. Prim C. Vergara III and Engr. Rhett Allan Baldonado.

Promoting a safer CPU—Three university staff members, namely, Mr. Prim C. Vergara III, Occupational Safety and Health Officer and Coordinator of the Sustainable Campus Committee; Mr. Mark Clemens J. Ortaliz, CPU Webmaster; and Engr. Rhett Allan Baldonado, Supervisor, Shop Department, attended a 6-day training on Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System on October 22-27, 2018 at the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Molo Campus.

The said seminar was spearheaded by the Iloilo City Government through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. In the seminar, they learned about the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS), which is a hazard risk simulation software that aims to produce hazard and risk maps immediately after the occurrence of a strong and potentially 31damaging earthquake.

According to Mr. Ortaliz, the training-seminar instructed educational and commercial institutions on how to respond in case of an earthquake: “The seminar taught us how to assess earthquake risks. We were also oriented about the hazards and the ways on how we can mitigate or prevent damage in case an earthquake does occur.”

 CPU is helping the Iloilo City Government through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office by gathering structural data on the different buildings and establishments in Iloilo City to be used for statistical purposes.