Students remark Angat Dam Break drill as a failure

Students remark Angat Dam break drill as a failure

By: Chrissa Anne B. Palma

Seven out of 10 students who participated in the Angat Dam Break Drill last December 13 don't believe that the drill would be helpful in a real-life situation.

The drill was performed to calculate how long it would take for the students in Malolos area to reach Bulacan Sports Complex, the official evacuation center the local government has decided on to be the safest place in the province.

However, most of those who participated in the activity said it was only a waste of time. The reason varies but the top explanation given was the weak foundation of the drill.

"Feeling ko naman hindi magagawa `yong drill kapag bumaha talaga. Hindi ako maglalakad papuntang complex. Magko-commute ako," Michiko Pineda, a second year Mass communication student from Centro Escular University (CEU ) said.

When it comes to real-life situations, Graccielle Solomon, a third year Journalism student from Bulacan State University (BulSU) believes that no preparation can really prepare the people from the possible chaos the catastrophe may bring.

"Sa totoong buhay, hindi magiging kalmado ang mga tao. Hindi yata nasaalang- alang `yong possibility na puwedeng mag-panic ang mga tao. Paano kung magka- traffic? O kaya magkasakitan sa pag-uunahan makapunta sa safety?" Solomon said.

One more thing the students complained about is the lack of proper explanation and instruction about the drill.

"Ni-require kaming maglakad dahil walang klase. Alam naming Angat dam drill siya, pero hindi namin exactly alam kung para saan `yon o kung ano ba ang mangyayari," Krishna Sankrea from CEU shared.

If ever the Angat dam unfortunately gets broken, flash flood would affect different areas of Bulacan. But most students who didn’t participate in the drill don’t have any idea on what has transpired, and what could possibly take place in an unfortunate calamity.

“Nakita ko lang `yong mga schoolmates ko na naglalakad pero hindi ko alam kung bakit. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na tungkol pala `yon sa paghahanda kung sakaling gumuho ang Angat dam,” Melvin Wu, a fourth year BS Computer Science major said.

Wu also said that it seemed like the university has lacked in spreading awareness about the event to the student body.

“Bakit pili lang `yong mga major na nag-participate? Sana man lang nagkaroon ng program na tumatalakay sa Angat dam break. Nababasa ko siya sa Facebook pero mas okay sana kung mas mapapaliwanagan kami. Kung totoong malaking peligro siya, bakit kaya kaunti lang ang aware?” Rissyan Jeheili de Guzman, BS Education major said.