Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said on Friday, March 3, that the city government had already installed 27 earthquake recording instruments in public buildings to boost the city's disaster response efforts and initiatives.
Binay explained that the instrument, called accelerograph, is used to continuously monitor and record movements and vibrations on the ground that may cause structural damage.
It also promotes public safety and structural integrity by providing real-time seismic data that enables building administrators to determine the need for evacuation and establish building security measures.
The mayor said the city government installed the accelerograph in buildings located in earthquake-vulnerable areas, including those traversed by the West Valley Fault and liquefaction-prone barangays.
"We have prioritized our schools and facilities located in high-risk areas for the installation of accelerographs as part of the continuing efforts to build our resilience to disasters. We want to ensure the safety and well-being of our Proud Makatizens, including students in our public schools and city government workers,” Binay said.
The 27 units of accelerograp were installed at the Makati City Hall complex;Fort Bonifacio Elementary and High School; East Rembo Health Center; University of Makati; Ospital ng Makat; Comembo Elementary School; East Rembo Elementary School; Rizal Elementary School;Bangkal Elementary School, San Isidro National High School, San Antonio Village Elementary School, Maximo Estrella Elementary School, and Jose Magsaysay Elementary School.
Binay called on the owners and administrators of private buildings located in the city to install earthquake recording instruments, which is required by the national government for buildings over 50 meters high, including high-rise buildings, both government and private-owned.
“The recent strong earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey should be a wake-up call to everyone. We must heed the dire warnings of experts and brace ourselves for the projected 7.5 magnitude earthquake that can occur anytime with the West Valley Fault already ripe for movement,” Binay stressed.
According to data provided by the Office of the Building Official (OBO) of Makati, a total of 144 buildings in the city have complied with the requirement to install appropriate earthquake recording instruments (ERI).
Under the Guidelines and Implementing Rules on Earthquake Recording Instrumentation for Buildings approved by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as part of the IRR of the National Building Code, all existing buildings and structures above 50 meters in height and commercial buildings with an occupancy of at least 1,000 persons or has a gross floor area of at least 10,000 square meters, are mandated to install ERI with the specifications prescribed by law.
Government buildings, including provincial, municipal or city halls and buildings, hospitals, and schools, are also covered by the directive.
Meanwhile, the OBO to date has issued a Certificate of Structural Stability to a total of 94 buildings in the city as of end-December 2022.
The Certificate of Structural Stability is a mandatory requirement for medium and high-rise buildings over 15 years in existence nationwide.
Currently, Makati has 1,106 low-rise buildings, 551 medium-rise buildings, and 200 high-rise buildings.
There are also 27 ongoing high-rise projects being closely monitored by the OBO for compliance with the National Building Code, Philippine Green Building Code, and other pertinent laws.