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[av_heading heading=’‘Magnitude 6’ quake may ruin old Bacolod bldgs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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Thursday, February 16, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Buildings 15 years and older may collapse if a magnitude 6 earthquake or higher strikes, a disaster management official warned.
Most of such buildings are commercial edifices at the downtown area, according to Executive Assistant Jomarie Vargas, head of the city government cluster on disaster risk reduction and management.
Newer buildings, especially those that passed new building code requirements, are safer, including the Bacolod City Government Center, Vargas told a news conference at the City Mayor’s Office yesterday.
Vargas suggested that old and unsafe buildings be reevaluated and rehabilitated or rebuilt but warned that this will come at a price.
If it is any consolation, Bacolod is one of the areas in Negros Island Region considerably safe from earthquakes, said Vargas. The capital city does not sit along the five fault lines in the island region, he said.
According to Vargas, local governments lying on Negros fault lines are Hinoba-an town and Kabankalan and Sipalay cities in Negros Occidental, and Guihulngan and La Libertad towns in Negros Oriental.
He advised the public to always be prepared. When an earthquake strikes cannot be detected ahead of time, he stressed.
Meanwhile, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) is training personnel on the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System.
It involves checking the structural integrity of buildings after tremors and assessing whether or not they are still safe to occupy, Vargas said.
While local rescue personnel have a plan for quick response, Vargas said a 100-percent efficient response cannot be expected during a huge earthquake, especially if the rescuers themselves are injured.
Moreover, the CDRRMO conducts quarterly earthquake drills in public schools, and in companies upon request./PN
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