The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to assess the structural stability of the buildings in Metro Manila and other adjacent areas in preparation for the possible strong earthquakes, particularly the “Big One.’’
This came after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology revealed that around 3,200 structures are standing along the West Valley Fault and that 12 to 13 percent of the residential buildings may sustain heavy damage in the onslaught of the “Big One.”
A segment of the “West Valley Fault’’ system runs through Metro Manila, traversing the areas like Marikina City, Quezon City, Pasig City, Makati City, Taguig City, Muntinlupa City and nearby provinces.
DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo Iringan explained that the “Harmonized Infrastructure Audit’’ tool will be utilized to ensure the resilience of buildings in the country against earthquakes.
“This tool will establish a national standard for assessing local public infrastructures, particularly their vulnerability to high-magnitude earthquakes,” Iringan explained.
Iringan noted that the tool will aid the local government units (LGUs) identify the priority structures subject to infra audits and will be pilot-tested in the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.
He also pointed out that the DILG had hooked up with the ‘academe’ to tap fourth year and fifth year engineering students to help in assessing the infrastructures.
Iringan represented Secretary Juanito ‘Jonvic’ Remulla during the recent 2nd Earthquake Preparedness Summit organized by the Office of Civil Defense.
Remulla sits as the vice chairperson for the Disaster Preparedness of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
During the event, the DILG also discussed its programs to enhance the LGUs’ earthquake preparedness and resilience such as Operation L!sto and the Basic Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for barangays.