The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) emphasized Tuesday the critical need for constructing earthquake-resistant buildings and bridges, noting that up to 500,000 structures could collapse if “The Big One”—a major earthquake with an anticipated magnitude of 7.2–strikes the country.
During an earthquake preparedness summit, OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno highlighted the importance of proactive and preventive engineering solutions as the nation’s primary defense against the potential devastation of a powerful earthquake.
“The structures should be able to withstand at least an 8.5 magnitude earthquake, at least,” Nepomuceno said. He added some individuals have been preparing for Magnitude 10 earthquakes.
Nepomuceno emphasized the importance of adhering to proper construction standards, stating that there should be no shortcuts in building houses, offices, condominiums, hotels, and bridges.
The OCD organized the two-day summit in response to the catastrophic magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, claiming over 3,000 lives and causing extensive damage to houses, temples, and other structures.
As the Philippines braces for a potential major earthquake, Nepomuceno acknowledged that the country still has a long way to go in making its infrastructure resistant to such powerful seismic events, beyond relying on the basic “duck, cover, and hold” safety procedure.
“We have yet to finish a complete structural integrity audit, especially of the critical structures—hospitals, mga headquarters, municipal halls, telcos, power plants,” Nepomuceno said.
Nepomuceno suggested that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) should be engaged to ensure that local government units (LGUs) strictly enforce regulations on proper building construction.
He also emphasized the need for regular inspections of existing structures by qualified professionals to ensure their safety and resilience.
The OCD official warned that “The Big One” could result in the deaths of 50,000 people, injure 162,000 others, and displace 46 million individuals whose homes might be severely affected.