MANILA - The Philippine government on Friday said it has scheduled a nationwide earthquake drill later this month.

• Strongest quake 'since 1985' strikes off Mexican coast

"Inaanyayahan natin ang bawat isa, sa September 21, 2 p.m., sabay-sabay tayong mag-duck, cover, and hold (We invite everyone, on September 21, 2 p.m., to join us and duck, cover, and hold)," said Romina Marasigan, spokesperson of the Office of Civil Defense.

In July, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) led an earthquake drill in the National Capital Region to "test the readiness and the capacity of all government units here in Metro Manila," said assistant secretary Kristoffer James Purisima of the Office of Civil Defense.

Meanwhile, September 21 is also the date that the country commemorates the declaration of Martial Law by late President Ferdinand Marcos, and activists and concerned groups are expected to also go out onto the streets.

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed activities to remember the declaration of martial law, but stressed that these should remain peaceful and cause no public inconvenience.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar also said that while the day was a regular working day, the significance of the event should not be forgotten.

"It will be governance as usual. This, however, does not mean the significance of the day is lost to the collective memory of the nation," he said. –with a report from Henry Atuelan, ABS-CBN News