DoST requires strengthening of the building code as “slope, cover, and hold” may not be sufficient for earthquakes.
The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) is urging strict implementation of the country’s building code following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Mindanao, noting that the safety measure of “get down, cover, and hold” may not be enough to protect people during strong tremors.
DoST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. he told BusinessWorld that although “get down, cover, and hold” is always a recommended safety measure during an earthquake, it is based on the assumption that buildings and infrastructure are designed to withstand strong earthquake activity.
“When we tell people to drop, close, hold, where they need to protect themselves, it is based on previous tests,” said Mr. Solidum in an interview he had at a press conference on Tuesday.
However, he warned that if the infrastructure does not comply with the building code, the chances of collapse increase and may be fatal, underscoring the need for enforcement.
“People’s preparedness during an earthquake depends on the soundness of the building,” said Mr. Solidum. Did they use the right materials? Was the work done well during construction?”
Under the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP), general buildings are not required to remain completely undamaged after a major earthquake, but must maintain a controlled structural damage without collapse to ensure life safety and allow safe evacuation.
This is achieved through requirements such as a thorough geotechnical site investigation, proper detailing of beam-column joints for high shear to enable deformation without failure, and the installation of reinforced concrete shear walls to absorb the forces associated with earthquakes.
Mr. Solidum said that these standards under the national building code should be properly monitored by the concerned agencies to ensure that they are followed during construction.
However, in reality, many Filipinos, especially those who build private homes have limited financial means to hire professional engineers, often relying on contractors or informal workers, which can lead to non-compliance with the building code.
He suggested that local government units (LGUs) distribute standard housing designs that comply with the building code, which residents can follow when building houses.
He also recommended incorporating disaster-resilient building concepts into the high school curriculum to promote public awareness.
After the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Mindanao, extensive damage was reported to public infrastructure, commercial buildings and houses.
At least P1.2 billion worth of infrastructure damage has already been reported following the earthquake, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said as of 6 a.m. Wednesday.
The OCD also reported 774 destroyed infrastructure and 73,933 damaged houses, 13,652 of which were completely damaged.
To help assess whether an area is safe from earthquakes, DoST has developed an app called “How Safe Is My House?”, available on smartphones, which provides a quick self-test to determine if a building is built according to earthquake-resistant building standards. – Edg Adrian A. Eva
