Some PHL infrastructure not quake-proof - DPWH

UPDATED 5:30 p.m. - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday said it is preparing to rehabilitate some aging infrastructure that are not strong enough to withstand high-magnitude earthquakes. On Wednesday's Senate inquiry on the country's disaster preparedness, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said nine bridges have to be reconstructed while 11 other bridges have to be retrofitted. "We are already programming the reconstruction and the repair of these bridges immediately," he said during the hearing. However, he did not name the bridges he was referring to. However, in an interview after the inquiry, DPWH undersecretary Raul Asis said among the bridges that either need to be reconstructed or retrofitted are the:

• Ayala Bridge
• Jesus Bridge, and
• Osmeña Bridge. However, he noted that this does not mean that the bridges, all located in Metro Manila, were substandard. He explained it just meant that these were not "at par" with the new National Building Code of the Philippnes (NBCP). Under the new Code, Singson said buildings should be capable of withstanding earthquakes with magnitudes from 8 to 8.9. Mass transits During the hearing, Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Loren Legarda asked the DPWH to inspect the Skyway, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) as well. Singson said the DPWH has yet to inspect the MRT. Asis noted, however, that the MRT and Skyway are relatively new infrastructures and are probably compliant with the building code. "I think it's conforming to the new code," said Asis. On the other hand, Asis said that they have inspected the LRT lines 1 and 2 and that both are "at par" with the code. "We're doing our best to be really prepared for the worst," he said. Aside from the mass transits systems, Zubiri and Legarda also asked the DPWH to check the Senate and Palace buildings, which Singson said they have not yet inspected. Assessing buildings Aside from bridges, Singson said with the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, the DPWH is also assessing the compliance of old high-rise buildings with the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers with the NBCP. "They're looking at 15 year-old buildings and (older)," Singson said during the hearing. The DPWH has also inspected 1,100 buildings in the National Capital Region (NCR), including public buildings, schools, hospitals, and housing projects, Singson said. Based on the DPWH's initial findings, Asis said the buildings do not need much repair. However, Singson said there are buildings which need a "more intrusive" inspection. "As far as public faiclities (are concerned) we're practically done... now we are moving to the provinces. We have directed all building officials to do the same in their areas of jurisdiction," said Singson. Asis admitted that some other low and medium-rise buildings near the West Valley Fault are also vulnerable to strong-magnitude earthquakes. Some of these buildings have already identified and fixed, including the Quirino Grandstand and Araullo High School, Asis said. Preparations During Wednesday's hearing, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolento admitted that they cannot predict the magnitude of any calamity. All that the government can do is to prepare for any calamity or disaster. "Kung ano po yung preparation sa baha, yun din po preparation namin sa earthquakes (Our preparations for floods are the same preparations we have for earthquakes)," he said. Leonor Cleofas, deputy administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), said they are collecting data and making preparations to make sure that the dams which are the major sources of water would be able to withstand earthquakes. Ma. Resurreccion Petel, department director at the National Power Corporation, likewise said their company has contingency plans for disasters. He said the NPC's Navotas Plant, among others, is on standby for any possible power shortage. Not satisfied Despite these pronouncements, however, Senate committee on environment and natural resources chairman Zubiri said he was not satisfied with how the government has been preparing for possible disasters. "I am not completely satisfied with the efforts of national government, the presentations here were fine, (but the problem is how) to make this reach the common man," he said in an interview after the hearing. He said the Phivolcs and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council should intensify its information campaign to educate people on what they should do during disasters. On the other hand, Legarda said that at least the government agencies are doing something in preparation for such disasters. She added that they aim to find our more from them in succeeding hearings. Earlier in the day, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) deputy director Bartolome Bautista said the West Valley fault line supposedly capable of producing a 7.2-magnitude earthquake is "ripe" for movement. Bautista likewise said it is possible that a tsunami two to four meters high might occur along Manila Bay should the Manila Trench move. - VVP, GMA News