The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on all local government units (LGUs) to conduct comprehensive infrastrucature audits on both public and private buildings within their jurisdictions to help communities prepare for high-magnitude earthquakes.
The DILG emphasized that assessing the structural integrity of buildings is essential to ensure public safety and minimize casualties and damage during major seismic events.
Beyond public facilities such as hospitals, schools, and government offices, the DILG aims to expand the audits to include privately owned structures.
“With the increasing frequency and intensity of earthquakes, proactive preparedness is our best defense,” the DILG said.
The department added that harmonized audits and evidence-based planning can help build safer, more resilient communities nationwide.
In 2024, the DILG partnered with the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers to develop the Harmonized Infrastructure Audit Tool (HIAT), which provides a standardized framework for evaluating building resilience. To date, the DILG has trained 18 high-risk LGUs from Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and Central Luzon—areas along the West Valley Fault—to carry out infrastructure audits.
The DILG has also developed a corps of trained coaches from professional organizations, academic institutions, and local governments to mentor audit teams.
It encouraged private sector partnerships through Local Infrastructure Learning Hubs to support local efforts, reaffirming its commitment to disaster-ready communities and a safer infrastructure sector for all Filipinos.
