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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Sunday, April 23, 2017
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MANILA – Is the country ready for the “Big One”?
Sen. Leila de Lima is calling for the Senate to investigate the preparedness and mitigation actions of the national and local governments in case a 7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes.
De Lima filed proposed Senate Resolution No. 322 that seeks to assess the country’s readiness for a major earthquake.
The probe aims to look into how the current administration is implementing the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
In filing her resolution, the legislator, now detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame on charges of drug trafficking, cited the series of earthquakes that hit Batangas and some parts of the country recently.
“There is a need for a holistic assessment and strengthening of the respective capacities of national government agencies, local government units and other stakeholders to mitigate, response and recover from a potential massive earthquakes,” she said.
De Lima, citing the 2016 World Risk Index, said the Philippines, which is situated along the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the most active earthquake belt in the world, is the third most disaster-prone country.
Metro Manila’s West Valley Fault is due for the “Big One” which is seen to destroy about 40 percent of all buildings and kill 34,000 people, said the former justice secretary, referencing the 2004 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
A Swiss study, she noted, described the country’s capital as the “riskiest city in the world” next to Tokyo, Japan because it is located near two major faultlines the West Valley Fault and the Manila Trench.
De Lima also urged the government to immediately review and revise Republic Act No. 6541, or the National Building Code of the Philippines.
“The National Building Code should be revisited and amended to ensure that homeowners and building administrators will upgrade and retrofit their house or buildings to comply with the minimum requirements provided by the Code,” the senator ended./PN
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