If the deadly building collapse in Angeles City, Pampanga over the weekend highlighted anything, it's the need for the immediate passage of the proposed new Philippine Building Act (PBA).

Thus, said Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Romeo Momo Sr., chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways in the current 20th Congress, on Monday, May 25.

While rescue teams continue to comb through the rubble in search of survivors from the nine-story building that recently collapsed in Angeles City, Pampanga, and a thorough investigation of the incident has yet to be conducted, Momo reiterated the sense of urgency in the passage of the PBA.

For one thing, having such a law in place would help avert unnecessary deaths that may be caused by the collapse of buildings.

Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. urged the immediate passage of the new Philippine Building Act (PBA) to avert unnecessary deaths that may be caused by the collapse of buildings.

"We will continue to be at the mercy of dilapidated, sub-standard and unchecked buildings if we do not pass the PBA which would pave the way for the revision of the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP)," Momo said.

As of Monday morning, it was reported that four persons have been reported dead from the collapse of the building in Angeles City, while 17 others are still missing.

According to the ranking solon, the current building regulations--last updated in the 1970s--is no longer relevant to the present situation. He claims that the current law is unable to cope with rapid urbanization and hazard-prone environment.

Momo, an engineer by profession said that the PBA sought to ensure the stability of newly proposed or existing infrastructure against natural calamities and multiple hazards.

The measure would also ensure the standardization of building design, location, materials, and safety measures.

The Mindanao lawmaker also underscored a specific provision in the bill that would make mandatory the structural review of buildings every 15 years.

Under the PBA, buildings will also 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.

"There is no room for dillydallying here. The passage of the bill must be treated with urgency. We should not wait for the next disaster, natural or manmade, to strike," Momo added.