Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. (Rep. Momo's office)

The devastation caused by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake last week in Myanmar and Thailand shows that the proposed Philippine Building Act (PBA) is an urgent piece of legislation.

Thus, said reelectionist Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. who highlighted the timeliness of measure in a statement Monday, March 31.

The proposed law, which has passed third and final reading in the House of Representatives and is currently pending for Senate approval, aims to ensure the stability of newly proposed or existing infrastructure against natural calamities and multiple hazards, among others.

“We have seen first hand the urgency to pass this law. What happened to Myanmar and Thailand should be an eye-opener because we need to take action while we can. In times of natural disasters and calamities, our preparedness will define our very nation," Momo said.

"We cannot sit idly by as these things continue to happen around us. We must act now,” the M6indanao solon underscored.

The proposed PBA, which hopes to amend the 48-year-old National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP), aims to ensure the standardization of building design, location, materials, and safety measures against natural calamities.

As chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways, Momo stressed that what happened with neighboring Myanmar and Thailand is not far from what could happen in the Philippines, particularly if “the Big One” finally strikes and can cause massive and widespread devastation in Metro Manila.

“Do we wait for it to happen or do we act now while we still can? The Philippine Building Act will set the wheels in motion, ensuring that our buildings, private and public, can withstand the power of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake,” Momo said.

With around 20 active volcanoes in the country, scientists have been predicting a 7.2-magnitude earthquake to hit at any time.

“It is our duty as public servants to do everything that we can to protect our people from any potential harm—natural or man made. We have been given this mandate to pass laws, enact policies, and implement programs and measures that will keep all Filipinos safe,” the lawmaker added.

Momo cited a specific provision in the bill that would make a structural review of buildings mandatory every 15 years.

“Mandatory inspection and assessment by a recognized certifier as to structural stability and fire safety construction shall be commissioned by the building owner at the 15 year from date of completion of the building and every 15 years thereafter, in case of Special Structures,” the measure read.

“In cases of addition, alteration, conversion, rehabilitation, relocation, repair, and/or retrofit requiring more recent structural stability assessment and corresponding certification and clearance, the date of reckoning of 15 years for purposes of this Section shall be counted from the completion date of the latest building permit that involved the most recent structural stability clearance under this Act,” it stated.

Under the PBA, buildings will follow a classification system according to their fire resistance rating, occupancy, and permitting process.

It would also compose a list of general requirements for the standardization of location and zoning, design, construction, materials, permits and licenses, and occupancy, maintenance, and abatement.