Coseteng wants inventory of buildings constructed in last decade

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Nikki Coseteng said there should be a national audit of all buildings built in the last 10 years to check on their structural integrity in view of the reported widespread use of questionable integrity steel reinforcing bars (rebars) in the country.

Coseteng, chairperson of the Philippine Induction Smelting Industry Association, said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) could lead the effort at checking on the structural integrity of buildings, especially high rises.

She said the DILG could make an inventory of all buildings constructed in the last 10 years that are at least 10 storys high, and ascertain the names of the developers, contractors and structural engineers.

“So when the Big One hits, we can identify and anticipate the consequences, responsibilities and compensation,” Coseteng said in a recent Senate hearing of the committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship held to tackle the issue of proliferation of substandard and uncertified steel bars.

The Senate is conducting the hearings in aid of legislation with proposed legislation filed separately by Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito and Panfilo Lacson. Proposed Senate Resolution 802 filed by Ejercito seeks to craft “legislation and policies that may help revitalize the steel industry in the country,” while Lacson’s resolution “has an end view of protecting public safety through the enactment of remedial measures that will stop the proliferation of substandard steel bars.”

Coseteng said the effort was of paramount importance especially with the Duterte administration embarking on its ambitious multitrillion-peso “Build, Build, Build” program and preparations for the so-called “Big One” – the anticipated 7.2 magnitude earthquake that may soon occur at the Valley Fault in Luzon.

“I am deeply concerned because of the administration’s flagship Build, Build, Build program,” she said.

Coseteng said that she supported the calls raised by engineer Emilio Morales, former chairman of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, who has come up with a study exposing the “clear and present danger” posed by the use of quench-tempered and thermo mechanically treated steel rebars in high rise buildings constructed in the country.