Review of National Building Code backed amid earthquakes

A congresswoman has joined the call for Congress to review the National Building Code after three major earthquakes struck Mindanao in two weeks.

“Considering that the country is located in a geologically active region, maybe it’s time to review the National Building Code to make new buildings more earthquake resistant,” said ACT-CIS Party-List Rep. Niña Taduran, a neophyte lawmaker.

Taduran noted that while the regular earthquake drills implemented by the government has somewhat contributed in reducing the number of casualties in the recent earthquakes, the government can do more by making sure all new structures are earthquake-proof.

“Our engineers already know what to do to strengthen our existing buildings. Are we going to wait for ‘The Big One’ to happen and then regret not acting when we had the chance?” stressed the former journalist.

Since Oct. 16, three earthquakes reaching magnitudes of 6.3, 6.6, and 6.5 have jolted southern Mindanao, damaging thousands of structures. Around a dozen people were killed by the tremors.

“The loss of life as a result of acts of God is indeed tragic, but it is even more heartbreaking if the same loss of life could have been prevented by acts of men,” Taduran said.

The damage from the latest quake Thursday morning to relatively new structures like Eva’s Hotel in Kidapawan City and Ecoland Condominium 4000 in Davao should be an eye-opener for government building officials, she said.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier stressed the urgency to update the Marcosera National Building Code in light of the quakes.

Backing Cayetano’s appeal was Senior Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate.

“We should really check if the materials used on these buildings were strong and not substandard,” Zarate said.

“This should be done for the whole country and not just in Mindanao. Structures in Metro Manila and around it especially those that are near the West Valley Fault should be inspected by structural engineers and reinforced,” he added.