Find Out How You Can Save A Life With #Pagyanig And #MMShakeDrill

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In the last few years, the words West Valley Fault have been making a buzz throughout the archipelago.

According to studies, the West Valley Fault Line, formerly known as the Marikina Fault, is expected to cause an earthquake of epic proportions, dubbed as the "Big One", should it move in this day and age after being dormant for so long.

To mitigate the damage such catastrophic phenomenon can cause, the national government, through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and its member agencies and partners, conduct a Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on a quarterly basis in order to raise the public's awareness regarding the threat that the "Big One" poses, as well as to develop and maintain the skills of people from government agencies and organizations involved in disaster response and management during critical moments. And on 22 June 2016, the 2nd NSED of the year is set to happen.

On top of that, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will also conduct its Shake Drill on the same date for the same purpose. And rightfully so, especially when you consider that the seat of the Philippine government is found in Metro Manila.

However, all these efforts are exercises to futility if the rest of the country will not participate or support such initiatives.

No matter how much we pressure the government and remind it of its responsibility to the people, the harsh reality is, when disaster strikes YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. Just because a select group of individuals swore to protect and save you during disasters, it does not mean they are immune from the negative impact of such scenarios. Just like you, they can become victims. And just like you, they might use some saving too should bad things happen.

So when the government launches activities like the NSED and Shake Drill, you better pay attention, do your own research and learn how you can increase your chances of survival should the "Big One" come along.

In line with this matter, you can help your friends and family improve their chances of survival by tweeting or posting #Pagyanig and #MMShakeDrill on social media. #Pagyanig pertains to the NSED while the #MMShakeDrill is for the MMDA Shake Drill. By tweeting or posting these words on social media, you can raise awareness for the aforementioned government initiatives, and ultimately, pique the interest of the public towards these drills, which may result into educating a good number of Filipinos regarding the effects of a strong earthquake and how to deal with it.

When you think about, it is amazing how a press of a button or a tap on a screen can save a lot of lives. For what it is worth, tweeting or posting #Pagyanig and #MMShakeDrill is definitely worth your while.