All local disaster risk reduction and management councils (DRRMCs) in Western Visayas, down to the barangay level, have been instructed to inspect the structural integrity of buildings and critical infrastructure following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu.
Regional DRRMC chair and Civil Defense Director Raul Fernandez signed Memorandum Order No. 69 on Wednesday, calling on agencies and stakeholders to coordinate with provincial, city, and municipal engineering offices as well as local DRRMCs to carry out systematic inspections.
The assessment aims to determine damage to public and private structures, identify facilities posing immediate risks, and recommend repairs, retrofitting, or condemnation. Reports will guide local and regional authorities in response and recovery measures.
In Iloilo City, city hall resumed work at 10 a.m. Wednesday after inspections by the Office of the Building Official, Facility Conservation Office, and City Engineer declared the main and annex buildings safe. “The safety of our employees and the public remains our top priority, and we will continue to monitor and ensure the integrity of our government facilities,” Mayor Raisa Treñas said.
Classes at all levels remain suspended while school facilities undergo inspection. Businesses are also urged to report any structural damage for evaluation. Alfonso Baldonado III of the Iloilo PDRRM noted, “The first 24 hours after the first shake is the critical period. Mostly, some aftershocks are even stronger than the initial quake.”
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. previously advised mayors of municipalities with high-rise structures to assess their integrity and, if needed, suspend work and classes to protect public safety.
