Baka kasama bahay n'yo: OCD orders structural integrity check of houses, buildings nationwide
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has ordered all its personnel on the ground to start the massive inspection of houses, buildings and other infrastructures as a way of checking their integrity in cases of natural calamities.
OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the inspection is part of the government’s intervention measures to strengthen the disaster preparedness of the country and is aimed at coming up with a list of critical facilities nationwide.
“We asked our OCD regional directors to coordinate with relevant agencies regarding the list and integrity of critical facilities as well as to have an inventory of all disaster response assets. This is part of our continuous readiness assessment,” said Nepomuceno .
“We need those data as we further identify and plan for the implementation of necessary interventions and strategies. The role of our regional disaster managers from various government agencies is very crucial. We need to work together in strengthening the preparedness of our country against the threat of disasters. Prevention and mitigation and preparedness should always come first.” he added.
In the memorandum he issued, Nepomuceno emphasized the provision in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) 2020-2030 which states that there is a need for an increased structural integrity of housing, building, and critical infrastructure.
The order comes with an instruction for coordination with the local government units, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other government agencies.
Early this year, OCD senior officials met to discuss the modernization and strengthening of the country's civil defense and DRRM capabilities. The dialogue highlighted the importance of a clear direction for the effective prioritization of programs and the identification of appropriate strategies
The OCD, as the executive arm of the NDRRMC, is mandated to administer a comprehensive national civil defense and DRRM program by providing leadership in the continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches