BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) has been declared safe and ready for occupancy, with no structural damage, following the Intensity V earthquake felt in the city on the night of September 30, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.
Dr. Ana Maria Laarni Pornan, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), made the announcement on October 1 after DRRMO teams, in coordination with the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) and the Office of the Building Official (OBO), conducted a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis. The inspection was carried out under the directive of Mayor Greg Gasataya, who issued Executive Order No. 057 suspending classes in all schools and government work in Bacolod to ensure safety.
Engr. Loben Ceballos, CEO Officer-in-Charge, told the media that the BCGC showed no signs of structural damage. He attributed the building’s resilience to its seismic gap design—a safe space left between structures to reduce the impact of earthquakes. “Because of this design, the building can mitigate earthquake effects, making it earthquake-resistant,” Ceballos explained.
The BCGC, inaugurated in July 2010, houses key city government offices including the Mayor’s Office and City Council, replacing many functions of the old City Hall. It has since become a landmark and center of development in Bacolod.
Other structures inspected on October 1, including the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and Bacolod City College (BCC), were also declared safe with no major structural damage or defects.
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Provincial DRRMO reported that as of 10:30 a.m. on October 1, the magnitude 6.9 earthquake prompted 10 local government units, including Bacolod, to suspend government work, while 28 LGUs declared class suspensions. The provincial government likewise implemented a work suspension. Schools were advised to conduct inspections and submit damage reports to their respective Damage Assessment Teams to ensure the safety of students and staff./PN
