Palace to LGUs: Ensure integrity of structures

Phl not ready for the Big One?

- By JANVIC MATEO

Following the deadly earthquake in Myanmar last week, Malacañang has urged local government officials to inspect structures and ensure the strict implementation of rules on infrastructure projects.

In an interview with "Storycon" on One News yesterday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government considers this a priority in preparation for any future calamity.

"We are requesting all building officials in the LGUs to inspect their structures and to be strict and implement restrictions on the construction of buildings to prevent vulnerabilities during this kind of disasters," she said in Filipino.

Castro also confirmed that the 141-member humanitarian team that the Philippines will send to Myanmar is tentatively scheduled to leave today.

The team, she said, includes emergency medical assistance personnel from the Department of Health, along with urban search and rescue personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other agencies.

Similarly, Senate President Francis Escudero is calling for "a fresh inspection of public and private structures," given the country's location in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

"We must see to it that regular inspections are conducted on public infrastructure and on the structures constructed by the private sector, particularly the office and residential buildings that have sprouted over the past decades," he said.

OCD: Phl not ready

The country needs to catch up on its preparations to survive an earthquake because as of now, it is certainly not ready, according to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno.

"We cannot sugarcoat the answer.

We need to really catch up, because there are two levels of readiness.