LAST WEEK a magnitude 4 earthquake rattled parts of Western Visayas. We cannot predict when an earthquake will occur, therefore, we must always be prepared.
We should ensure that our homes and offices, medical facilities, shopping malls and public buildings, and heritage sites are able to withstand strong earthquakes. We must ensure proper and safe construction. Prevention is cost-effective.
Yes, sound engineering practice is the best protection against earthquakes. But where do we start? Perhaps we can start by evaluating the structural integrity of critical structures. It is a must that we immediately revisit our construction standards, codes and practices. We must examine them now and correct any deficiencies. The evaluation and retrofitting of infrastructures, especially hospitals, schools and bridges, must be done regularly to ensure that they can withstand strong earthquakes.
Yes, we must ensure the safety of our schools and hospitals. We were fortunate enough that the earthquake happened while schools are on summer break, otherwise, many children would have been in their schools. School and hospital authorities must act now. They must consult structural engineers and assess the vulnerability of school and hospital structures to strong earthquakes, and institute immediate measures to strengthen parts found weak and likely to collapse.
A guidebook on the promotion of disaster mitigation, which was published by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, revealed that the cost of disaster-proofing a hospital or health facility by incorporating comprehensive disaster protection from earthquake and extreme climatic events into designs from the beginning will only add four percent to the cost of construction. This cost is nothing compared to the risk of destruction and death of patients and staff during a disaster, and the equally high health, economic and development impacts in the aftermath.
