MANILA -- Several provinces joined the National Earthquake Drill organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to coincide with the Manila Shake Drill that was held Tuesday morning.

Some 8,000 students, faculty, and staff of Ateneo De Davao University participated in an emergency drill.

8,500 students & faculty of Ateneo de Davao University joined #Pagyanig in line with #MMShakeDrill pic.twitter.com/UNIfzuGxoy | @HernelTocmo

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 22, 2016

Students from the Cagayan de Oro City National High School also went out as the sirens bellowed, signifying the start of their earthquake drill.

Students of Cagayan de Oro City National High School join shake drill | via @rod_bolivar #Pagyanig #MMShakeDrill pic.twitter.com/r1Y4HZMJWd

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 22, 2016

READ: Second metro-wide quake drill set on June 22

Meanwhile, hundreds of students from Cebu City Central School also gathered at their school’s track and field area.

LOOK: Students of Cebu City Central School also join the shake drill. | via @feanneperez #MMShakeDrill #Pagyanig pic.twitter.com/B8onMW3FMj

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 22, 2016

The Santiago City National High School in Isabela was the ceremonial site for Region 2’s National Earthquake Drill.

The Eastern Mindanao Command Naval Forces and students of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Logistics Command Elementary School also did the “drop, cover, and hold” action when an earthquake occurs.

The Cebu Provincial Capitol, on the other hand, conducted a surprise earthquake drill; none of the staff and employees of the office were told they would be participating in the nationwide activity. Yet at 8:45 am, alarms sounded signaling the start of an earthquake evacuation drill.

At the Northwestern University in Laoag City high school and elementary students also joined the drill.

Unfortunately, some students and even teachers failed to perform "duck, cover and hold" action. Some teachers also failed to do headcounts.

In Vigan City, a fire and earthquake drill was held at the famed Heritage Village.

Thousands of students of the Zamboanga National High School-Main also held a successful drill.

Employees of Tacloban City Hall were joined by several groups, including fire volunteers, during their earthquake and fire drills.

WATCH: New MMDA earthquake drill to include nearby provinces.

At the Dagupan City National High School in Pangasina, thousands of students were still able to join the drills despite ongoing construction of covered gymnasium and buildings for senior high school.

At least 16 schools in Dagupan City were said to have participated in the nationwide activity.

Both the Metro Manila Shake Drill and the National Earthquake Drill were organized in an effort to prepare the country for major earthquakes.

In particular, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Metro Manila could be hit hard by what it described as “The Big One" -- a 7.2 magnitude tremor that can topple buildings and kill over 30,000 people.

READ: Earthquake Scenarios: When the 'Big One' happens