Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) took part in the Fourth Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on November 5, 2026, with students and employees joining the campus-wide exercise to practice what to do during an earthquake and how to evacuate safely.
The drill was led by the Disaster Response and Emergency Action Management (DREAM) Team, in coordination with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Unit and the Quick Response Team (QRT), with the support of College President Dr. Christie Jean Villanueva-Ganiera, CESE.
Representatives from the Manolo Fortich Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (MF-DRRM) Unit and the Bureau of Fire Protection – Manolo Fortich (BFP-MF) also joined the activity as external evaluators.
When the drill signal was given, students and employees performed the “Duck, Cover, and Hold” maneuver. After the signal stopped, everyone proceeded to the designated evacuation area at the NBSC open field. Assigned personnel then conducted a headcount to check if all participants had safely reached the assembly area.
Aside from the evacuation exercise, the drill included simulated search-and-rescue and fire suppression activities. These allowed the College’s response teams to practice their respective roles and work together in handling possible emergency situations.
After the drill, representatives from the participating groups gathered for a post-evaluation. They discussed the activities, shared their observations, and identified areas that could be improved. Representatives from MF-DRRM and BFP-MF also gave their feedback on the conduct of the exercise.
Among the points discussed were the communication and coordination among the College’s safety response teams. The observations and suggestions raised during the evaluation will be considered in improving future drills and the College’s emergency response procedures.
The participation of students, employees, and response teams served as a reminder that campus safety is everyone’s responsibility. Knowing what to do and where to go during an emergency can make a difference in keeping the NBSC community safe.
Through these regular exercises, NBSC continues to give its community opportunities to practice emergency procedures and become more familiar with their respective roles during an actual emergency.
Written by: Jan G. Soriano
Photos by: Ralph A. Bagotsay, Blessel Jane M. Quiño
