Last week’s call of the DILG for all local government units to conduct comprehensive infrastructure audits on all public and private buildings is certainly necessary to strengthen earthquake readiness.

Recent earthquakes in Visayas and Mindanao have once again stirred anxiety among Filipinos. Many are understandably on edge, fearing the long-predicted “Big One” — a catastrophic earthquake along the West Valley Fault that could claim thousands of lives and wreak unprecedented havoc.

Seismologists remind us that it is not a matter of “if” but “when.” The 100-kilometer West Valley Fault, stretching from Bulacan through Quezon City and Metro Manila’s eastern sectors to Laguna and Cavite, last moved in 1658. And the fault “moves every 400 years on average,” experts said

Within our lifetimes, or that of the next generation, its destructive potential is expected to resurface. As often explained by the country’s foremost quake authority, Renato Solidum, the Philippines’ location in the Pacific Ring of Fire makes us inherently vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions alike.

Previous studies show potential devastation at a staggering scale. The Metro Manila Impact Reduction Study, a joint effort by Philvolcs, MMDA, and Japan’s JICA conducted from 2002 to 2004, projected 35,000 deaths and 500 simultaneous fires across the premier metropolis.

Another study, the 2013 Greater Metro Manila Area Risk Analysis Project funded by Australia, warned that a 7.2-magnitude quake could collapse structures within 1,100 hectares, kill 37,000 people, and cause ₱2.4 trillion in damages.

Earthquakes have haunted humanity for centuries, reminding us how fragile and powerless we are against the raw forces of nature. Yet, history shows our preparedness is often inadequate. The 2013 Bohol and Cebu earthquake killed over 200 people, exposing structural weaknesses and lax enforcement of building standards.

In 2019, at least a dozen people died when a four-story building housing a supermarket in Porac, Pampanga collapsed. Investigations indicated the structure was built on unstable land, formerly a rice field with natural spring water. Negligence, poor planning, and substandard construction materials continue to threaten lives.

The lessons of the past remain painfully clear. Fifty-seven years ago, the Ruby Tower tragedy in Manila claimed 268 lives due to structural flaws and low-quality materials. A UN team investigating the disaster found “flexible reinforced concrete frames, unbalanced walls, rigid exterior columns, beams shortened by walls, low concrete strength, insufficient reinforcing of corner columns, and inadequate column ties.”

Thus, enjoining LGUs to audit the structural integrity of all buildings, both public and private, is essential. The DILG said it partnered with key stakeholders, including the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, to develop the “Harmonized Infrastructure Audit Tool (HIAT), a standardized framework for evaluating building resilience and identifying potential vulnerabilities before seismic disasters.”

To date, dozens of LGUs have been trained, and technical experts are mentoring local audit teams, the DILG said. In previous columns, I cited the need for house-to-house inspections to evaluate structural integrity and determine what needs to be done to correct deficiencies and what kind of retrofitting a structure must undergo—with the primary purpose of saving lives.

Civic-minded structural engineers and architects could form themselves into groups and, in the spirit of bayanihan, conduct “engineering missions” to examine the homes of informal settlers and help strengthen the dwellings of those who cannot afford professional fees.

For structures that are being built or have yet to be built, government monitoring must be intensified to ensure strict compliance of minimal requirements provided in the National Building Code and the Structural Code designed to help buildings withstand strong tremors.

And strict monitoring on the quality of construction materials must also be relentless. Years ago, there were persistent reports from the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) that substandard steel bars used in construction were being openly sold in many Luzon provinces at the risk of consumer safety.

PISI said “test buy” operations on substandard steel flagged many hardware stores in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro, as well as in Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bulacan. Apart from low-grade steel products, there were also reports of substandard cement, including shipments that pass through the Bureau of Customs.

Earthquake preparedness is a shared responsibility. Families must also take steps in securing heavy furniture, having emergency kits, and knowing evacuation routes. But without systemic action — through stricter laws, robust audits, and enforcement against substandard construction materials — individual readiness can only go so far.

The “Big One” is coming. Fear is natural, but preparation is imperative. With stronger laws, vigilant enforcement, rigorous building audits, and collective action, we can ensure that when the earth trembles, lives are spared and communities endure. Ignoring the warning is a luxury we can’t afford. ([email protected])