Senate President Francis Escudero has called for more inspections of public and private structures nationwide to ensure their structural integrity, emphasizing the need for stricter safety measures as the Philippines lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.
Escudero cited the March 28 magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar, which also impacted Thailand—countries with infrastructure similar to the Philippines. “We must see to it that regular inspections are conducted on public infrastructure and private structures, especially office and residential buildings that have risen over the past decades,” he said.
The Senate is advancing several bills to strengthen the country’s outdated Building Code, including SB 289 by Escudero and other proposals by Senators Christopher Lawrence Go, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Francis Tolentino. These measures seek to repeal Presidential Decree No. 1096 and enforce stricter inspection and certification processes by local government units.
Escudero pointed out that the current Building Code lacks comprehensive earthquake provisions, and while the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) was updated in 2015, enforcement remains weak across the construction sector.
He also referenced a 2004 study by JICA, PHIVOLCS, and MMDA, warning that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila could result in 34,000 deaths, the collapse of 170,000 homes, and widespread fire damage.
“We need to take disaster risk reduction and management seriously at all times,” Escudero stressed.