Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14) — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday said it is constructing an earthquake-resistant building in Pampanga that would serve as a command center should the “Big One” hit Metro Manila.
DPWH Usec. Maximo Carvajal explained that the action center is being built outside of the National Capital Region because the agency’s main office is already old and could be damaged as well when a strong earthquake happens.
\”Inaasahan po natin na kapag dumating ang the ‘Big One’ dito sa NCR po, halos wala pong matitira sa mga building natin na magagamit natin na action center,\” he said during a Senate hearing on the state of buildings and infrastructures in the country.
[Translation: When the ‘Big One’ hits NCR, we expect that almost all the buildings will destroyed and nothing can be used an action center.]
\”So nagtatayo kami sa kasalukuyan sa Region 3, sa regional office ng DPWH, na redundant building na earthquake-resistant po,\” Carvajal added.
[Translation: We are currently constructing in Region, in our regional office, a redundant building that is earthquake resistant.]
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake recently struck Turkey and Syria – killing over 37,000 people, including at least two Filipinos.
According to a 2004 study by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake from the West Valley Fault could lead to the collapse of 40% of the residential areas in Metro Manila.
The scenario could also result in 34,000 deaths and 114,000 injuries.
\”Dapat ayusin na ang dapat ayusin, kung hindi malala pa sa Turkey at Syria ang kakaharapin natin,\” Sen. Raffy Tulfo lamented during the hearing.
[Translation: Everything that should be fixed, should be fixed already or else our situation could be worse than what happened to Turkey and Syria.]
Carvajal said that over 5,900 public buildings in Metro Manila are undergoing risk assessment, while more than 100 have been retrofitted already from 2018 to 2021.
