NDRRMC, eng'g groups ink deal on disaster resilience

MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and engineering groups on signed an agreement that seeks to minimize casualties during earthquakes by ensuring that buildings are resilient. 

The agreement, a component of the Earthquake Quick Response Program, was signed by NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. (PICE) National President David Sanchez and Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines Inc. (ASEP) President Carlos Villaraza. 

Pama said the agreement would allow engineers to lend their expertise in efforts to assess whether structures in the country can withstand earthquakes.

“This is one area where we at OCD (Office of Civil Defense) and NDRRMC need a different kind of storm surge. It is a storm surge in the context of knowledge and how expertise and assistance from people like you,” he told engineers during the signing ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo.

Villaraza believes the cooperation between the government and engineering groups would prevent the scenario wherein about 30,000 people would die if a big one hits Metro Manila.

Sanchez said PICE is now forming a team that would determine the safety of vital structures like hospitals, schools and evacuation centers. 

Under the agreement, the PICE will organize Earthquake Quick Response Program Teams nationwide to overview earthquake engineering, conduct case studies, and undertake planning, operation and coordination during a disaster.

The teams will provide technical advice on emergency rescue operations, conduct rapid evaluation of damage, identify geotechnical hazards and prepare emergency phase reports among other tasks. 

Meanwhile, the ASEP will provide technical assistance to PICE in the training of civil engineers who are part of the response teams and update the knowledge and skills of team members involved in post-disaster recovery activities/

The NDRRMC will create standard procedures for the deployment of rapid assessment teams, issue guidelines on mobilizing and deputizing response teams in actual disasters and drills, and assist in the conduct of trainings.

The agreement will be subject to review every three years.

A recent government study found that about 168,300 of residential buildings may be heavily damaged and about 339,800 others may be partly damaged if a magnitude 7.2 earthquake caused by the West Valley Fault ravages the country.

Also known as the Marikina fault line, the West Valley Fault starts from the Sierra Madre and runs through Bulacan, Rodriguez, Rizal, Quezon City, the eastern side of Metro Manila including Pasig, Taguig, Muntinlupa, San Pedro, and Sta. Rosa in Laguna and ends in Carmona, Cavite.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake is also projected to leave 33,500 persons dead and 113,600 others injured and damage lifelines like water pipes, electricity, bridges and communication facilities. - with a report from M. Lizan