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Ensure integrity of structures
By Nidz Godino
“We are requesting all building officials in LGUs to inspect their structures and to be strict and implement restrictions on construction of buildings to prevent vulnerabilities during this kind of disasters,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in following deadly earthquake in Myanmar, Malacañang has urged local government officials to inspect structures and ensure strict implementation of rules on infrastructure projects.
Castro said government considers this priority in preparation for any future calamity.
Castro also confirmed 141-member humanitarian team Philippines will send to Myanmar is tentatively scheduled to leave today.
Team, she said, includes emergency medical assistance personnel from Department of Health, along with urban search and rescue personnel from Bureau of Fire Protection, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other agencies.
Similarly, Senate President Francis Escudero wanted “fresh inspection of public and private structures,” given country’s location in Pacific Ring of Fire.
“We must see to it that regular inspections are conducted on public infrastructure and on structures constructed by private sector, particularly office and residential buildings that have sprouted over past decades,” he said.
Country needs to catch up on its preparations to survive earthquake because as of now, it is certainly not ready, according to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno.
“We cannot sugarcoat answer…we need to really catch up, because there are two levels of readiness…what we always see is second level, ‘duck, cover and hold…’ reaction in event of strong earthquake, first level, more important, is engineering solutions, our buildings, houses, structures, bridges are they strong enough to withstand an earthquake…we need to catch up the most,” he said.
Nepomuceno explained that “Big One” could hit Metro Manila, being near West Valley Fault System, but six other trenches cause frequent earthquakes in Abra, Bohol and Davao region.
According to Malacañang, contingency measures are in place in case “Big One” hits.
“We really cannot tell when it will happen…our government agencies are prepared for that…we had earthquake drill, fire drill and we have prepared ‘go’ bags,” Castro said at press briefing.
More than 1,700 persons have died while about 3,400 others were hurt in 7.7-magnitude earthquake tore into Myanmar and Thailand last Friday.
At least 33,000 people would die and more than 100,000 individuals would be injured should magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Metro Manila, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Teresito Bacolcol said.
Bacolcol cited Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study jointly conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency, MMDA and Phivolcs in 2004 in case strong earthquake would occur because of movement of West Valley Fault.
“Casualties ,33,000 could still increase if 100,000 injured would not be given immediate medical attention,” Bacolcol said.
He added that worst earthquake in the country occurred on Aug. 16,1976 where at least 8,000 people died in earthquake brought by Cotabato Trench.
“It happened past midnight and it generated tsunami,” he noted.
He said that aside from Cotabato earthquake, at least 1,600 people died on July 16, 1990 following Luzon earthquake.
“Casualties would be because of collapse of buildings,” he said, referring to projected figures.
Bacolcol said while regular earthquake drills are important, buildings and houses should be earthquake resilient.
“Even if we practice duck, cover and hold, if buildings or houses are not earthquake resilient, it would still cause casualties…we have to follow minimum requirements of our building code to make sure our houses and buildings are resilient,” he added.
Bacolcol noted that there are at least 175 active fault segments in the Philippines, where some could generate strong earthquakes between magnitude 7.2 and 8.2.
Department of Foreign Affairs is expecting repatriation requests from Filipinos affected by earthquake in Myanmar.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said Philippine embassy in Yangon is ready to help and repatriate Filipinos who will request to come home after they lost their jobs due to earthquake.
“Like what happened in Turkiye in 2023, if someone wants to come home, we will help them,” De Vega said.
DFA said four Filipinos in Myanmar are still missing following two powerful earthquakes.
De Vega said two of four Filipinos, professionals, are husband and wife residing in building that collapsed.
The embassy continues to conduct welfare checks on affected Filipinos and all embassy communication lines remain open to provide assistance and support.
Embassy was also preparing to deploy team in Mandalay for on-the-ground assessment and direct welfare checks on Filipinos in the area.
Arrangements were made to mobilize and distribute essential supplies and basic necessities to those in need, including possible evacuation routes for relocation or repatriation.
Meanwhile, Escudero emphasized need for Philippine embassies in Yangon and Bangkok to stay on top of the situation.
“Once dust has settled and rescue operations have concluded, we must have full accounting of Filipinos who may have been affected by earthquake and extend every possible assistance as necessary, including psychosocial support for survivors, we express our deepest sympathies and condolences to governments of Myanmar and Thailand and most especially to families who lost their loved ones to devastating earthquake…both countries have been gracious hosts to our OFWs over long period of time and as fellow members of ASEAN,Association of Southeast Asian Nations, we consider them as more than just neighbors, but part of our community of nations,” the Senate President said.
ISKUP! 