Phivolcs urge people to comply with building code

November 4, 2019

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Monday urged people to comply with the National Building Code amid strong earthquakes which hit southern Mindanao last week.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the tremors in Cotabato and neighboring cities resulted in damages in infrastructures. He explained that the buildings easily gave way because of the materials used.

"You've seen houses that collapsed simply. The materials used were substandard, because maybe they don't know the standards of building construction," Solidum said in an interview on ANC.

Under the Republic Act Number 6541 or the National Building Code of the Philippines, structures that are unable to withstand strong tremors are considered as "dangerous and ruinous buildings or structures."

"Whenever any portion thereof has been damaged by fire, earthquake, wind, flood, or by any other cause, to such an extent that the structural strength or the stability thereof is materially less than it was before such catastrophe and is less than the minimum requirements of this Code for new buildings of similar structures, purpose, or location," the code read.

"Whenever any portion thereon has wracked, warped, buckled, or settled to such an extent that walls or other structural portions have materially less resistance to winds or earthquake than is required in the case similar new construction," it explained.

Solidum urged everyone, especially those quake-affected or are at hard-hit areas, to conform with the National Building Code. 

"Our building code assures us when we follow this -- not only in the design phase but in the actual materials used and workmanship is good -- that buildings and houses should not collapse at intensity eight," said Solidum.

He also advised residents to stay vigilant in case more strong earthquakes or aftershocks occur.

"The possibility is there since in the past 100 years strong quakes happened in Mindanao. As to the occurrence of another quake from another fault, we cannot discount that," he added. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS