New National Building Code pushed in view of climate change

hreats of natural catastrophes triggered by climate change has made it imperative for the country to put in place a new National Building Code that would replace the antiquated building and construction laws.

Quezon Rep. Angelina D.L. Tan has underscored the need to repeal Presidential Decree No. 1096 or the National Building Code (NBC), and replace it it with a new one as the Philippines has been identified among the 10 countries that topped the 2016 Global Climate Risk Index.

Tan filed House Bill 7815 proposing to regulate the planning, design, construction, occupancy of buildings by enacting a New Building Code.

Citing the 201`6 Global Climate Risk Index, Tan said Philippines is among the countries recurrently affected by catastrophes.

“According to a Berlin-based environmental organization Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index, Honduras, Myanmar, and Haitis were countries most affected by extreme weather events between 1995 to 2014. These countries, however, are followed by the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Bangladesh,” she noted.

Tan, chairperson of the House Committee on Health, said a complete revision of the National Building Code has become mandatory “in order to meet the needs of the times.”

She explained that experts have also endorsed the measure as they noted conflicting provisions between the Natural Structural Code of the Philippines and the standards on economic and socialized housing projects provided for under Batas Pambansa 220.

The National Building Code Review Committee created by the Department of Public Works and Highways strongly endorsed the revision of the current NBC.

HB 7815 provides a framework of minimum standards and requirements for all buildings and structures, as well as a guarantee of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and management.

“The measure proposes the institutionalization of a systems that will provide for periodic review and flexible mechanisms in the updating of regulations and standards and strengthen the participation of relevant stakeholders, taking into account the importance of allowing for continuing innovation in building design and construction,” explained Tan.

Once passed, the Quezon lawmaker is confident that hazards, exposures and vulnerabilities of buildings and structures in the country will be reduced.

“The bill mirrors the general principles for resilient buildings, houses and structures based on a year-long series of multi-stage, multi-platform, and multisectoral stakeholders consultations,” she stated.