ILOILO — Engineers, contractors, and government regulators were warned they could have “blood on their hands” if substandard buildings, bridges, and other critical infrastructure collapse during a major earthquake, as provincial disaster officials intensified calls for stricter construction standards following recent seismic activity.
Retired Police Colonel Cornelio Salinas, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), urged government engineers and builders to prioritize earthquake-resilient infrastructure projects, stressing that future earthquakes could cause catastrophic loss of life if structures are not designed to withstand powerful ground shaking.
The warning came after a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Iloilo City and Province on Monday night, hours after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked Mindanao.
Salinas said the recent tremor should serve as a wake-up call for authorities and the construction sector to ensure that roads, bridges, government buildings, and other critical facilities are built to survive major earthquakes.
“It’s high time for our engineers and for the government to think nga ang tanan nga patindugon nga road networks, bridges, buildings and critical infrastructure should now be earthquake resilient,” Salinas said.
According to Salinas, lessons from major earthquakes that have struck the country in recent years demonstrate the importance of investing in structures capable of withstanding strong seismic events.
He cited the Iloilo Provincial Capitol as an example of earthquake-conscious design, noting that the building was engineered to withstand a quake measuring up to magnitude 8.
Salinas also urged local authorities to consider adopting engineering practices used in countries such as Japan and Taiwan, which are known for advanced earthquake-resistant construction technologies.
“It can be a Japanese model, it can be Taiwanese model of buildings para malikawan ang daku nga casualties. Sa collapsed structures kita maka-incur sang daku nga casualties,” he said.
He emphasized that earthquakes pose a unique threat because they occur without warning, unlike floods and other hazards that often provide residents time to prepare and evacuate.
“Ang naga-problema sina ang aton regulatory agencies. There will be blood in their hands if buildings, bridges or critical road networks collapse due to substandard materials nga gingamit,” Salinas warned.
Meanwhile, provincial authorities declared the Iloilo Provincial Capitol structurally safe following a rapid visual inspection conducted Tuesday morning by civil and structural engineers.
Provincial Engineer Romeo Andig said inspectors found no new cracks or visible damage in the six-story Capitol building.
“No noticeable defects were spotted along the structural members of the buildings. Ang mga (previous) cracks nga nakita naton as is man sia gihapon. So, in view of that we declare that the building is structural safe for now,” Andig said.
Following the inspection, Salinas reminded Capitol employees and visitors to proceed immediately to the designated assembly area in front of the National Museum of the Philippines – Western Visayas in the event of aftershocks to allow engineers to conduct further structural assessments.
He likewise urged the public to make the “duck, cover and hold” procedure second nature and to avoid panic during earthquakes.
“Do not run, just walk graciously para at least indi man kamo magbinunggoanay because kun nagadinalagan kita it would create stampede and it would lead to mass casualties. So, likawan naton, just go on with protocols nga ginatudlo sa inyo during the drills and that should be part of our condition reflex in addressing situation such an earthquake,” Salinas said.
The provincial government also reminded residents to practice “Drop, Cover and Hold On,” prepare emergency kits and family emergency plans, and remain vigilant for aftershocks and other hazards following earthquakes./PN
