Gov’t tightens building regulations

THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday said it would work with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure local government units enforce stricter building permit regulations to brace for deadly quakes.

“We have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with them, possibly urging them to issue reminders to our local government units, especially the local building officials, to ensure proper implementation of occupancy permits, as well as the issuance of construction and building permits that are in strict compliance with our Building Code,” OCD spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo told a televised briefing in Filipino.

The country’s National Capital Region sits on the West Valley Fault line which could potentially experience a major earthquake. The fault line traverses the cities of Taguig, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Quezon City, Pasig, Makati, and Marikina, as well as the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan.

A potential 7.2 magnitude earthquake on the West Valley Fault, or “The Big One,” could result in an estimated 48,000 fatalities and $48 billion in economic losses, according to the World Bank.

“Compliance with the National Building Code must be prioritized and verified to ensure that it is being followed,” Mr. Bendijo said.

“This is an area we need to catch up on and there are still many basic issues we need to address.”

A 7.7-magnitude quake struck Myanmar and parts of Thailand last Friday, crippling major infrastructures like airports, bridges and highways. The recent quake is considered to be one of the biggest in the last century.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that according to China Central Television, Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing said the earthquake death toll has reached 2,719, with around 4,521 injured, and over 400 still missing.

Mr. Bendijo said a 90-person contingent consisting of personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Health and the OCD are in Myanmar to aid emergency response efforts in the Southeast Asian nation.

Myanmar had requested emergency search and rescue teams (with K9 or SAR dogs), medical assistance teams, medicines, medical equipment, emergency first aid kits, mobile generators, water sanitation kits, solar-powered lights, among other supplies, the OCD said in a statement on March 30. — John Victor D. Ordoñez