The chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways is prodding President Marcos to announce in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) the inclusion of the New Philippine Building Act (PBA) in his list of priority measures.

“We appeal to His Excellency to certify as urgent the passage of House Bill (HB) No. 6615 or the New Philippine Building Act,” Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. said on Tuesday, July 21.

“We should not forget that there have been recent devastating incidents that up until now the country and the people have not yet fully recovered,” noted the congressman, an engineer by profession.

Momo said that Oo May 24, 2026, a nine-story mixed use building in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga collapsed during its construction and trapped several people. As of June 10, two more bodies were recovered bringing the number of fatalities to 30.

On June 8, during the opening of school classes, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Sarangani and surrounding provinces that caused the collapse of several buildings. More than a month since the incident took place, there are still reports of strong aftershocks.

On June 26, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) pegged the death toll from the 7.8-magnitude tremor at 81.

Last year, on Sept. 30, a 6.9 magnitude struck near Bogo City in Cebu with widespread damages across Region VII and Region VIII.

According to reports, the approximately 748,000 individuals were affected. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported 76 people died and 1,300 others were injured.

“How many more lives do we need to lose, how many more risks do we need to take before we take action?” Momo asked.

The sitting President traditionally uses his or her SONA to announce priority legislation in current or coming years.

“The Philippines sits in the Pacific Rim of Fire and because of that earthquakes are part of the Filipinos’ life. Earthquakes cannot be detected, it cannot be avoided but we can prepare for it and be more resilient when it strikes,” Momo added.

“We need to build better with stronger infrastructures that could withstand strong earthquakes and typhoons. Let the New Philippine Building Act be our guide toward this progress,” the legislator further said.

Momo said that HB No. 6615, once enacted into law, will create stability for newly proposed or existing infrastructure and help it withstand against natural calamities and multiple hazards.

An example is under Section 62 of the New PBA prohibited acts are clearly defined to include unauthorized deviations from approved plans, construction beyond permitted specifications, non-compliance with structural and safety standards and violations of permits and regulatory requirements.

Momo explained that Section 62 “sends a strong message that no one is above building laws, no shortcut is worth a human life and negligence will have consequences".

The New PBA also carries a specific provision that would make the structural review of buildings every 15 years mandatory.

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