Despite poor internet service in their areas, some elementary pupils in the province of Rizal were able to take part in the simultaneous virtual third quarter earthquake drill initiated by the national government on Thursday, Sept. 16.
In Teresa, Rizal, some 900 students of Prinza Elementary School ducked for cover upon receiving the 9 a.m. alarm coming from their cellphones, tablets and desktop computers during the virtual 3rd Quarter Shake Drill.
Ms. Mayde C. Cruz, the school principal, told Manila Bulletin that students from kindergarten to Grade 6 as well as 26 teachers virtually participated in the online earthquake drill upon the instruction of the Department of Education.
Some pupils even managed to show pictures of them under a table holding textbooks while in the duck, cover and hold positions.
The teachers said that soon after the drill ended, some of their pupils sent photos as proof of their support to the nationwide earthquake drill.
In Antipolo City, students and faculty members of Teofila Z. Rovero Memorial Elementary School in Sitio Hinapao, Barangay San Jose also joined the drill as part of the school’s readiness measures in case a strong earthquake hits the city.
The office of school principal Luningning C. Tapales said the active involvement of the teachers and learners in the emergency drill, which is held every quarter, is a big factor in ensuring the safety of everybody during an earthquake, be it at home or at school.
The teachers of both schools told Manila Bulletin that they were all surprised but delighted to see their students join the virtual earthquake drill, which happened while they were having online classes with their teachers and despite poor internet or WiFi connections at their homes.