Binay orders safety inspection of govt housing projects

Vice President Jejomar Binay ordered all key shelter agencies over the weekend to conduct safety inspections of government housing projects. Binay also said housing agencies should be ready to immediately relocate residents in unsafe housing units, in coordination with respective local authorities. “In light of the recent earthquake in Japan, we should review the structural soundness of all government housing projects and structures and if needed, undertake the needed repair and rehabilitation to ensure the safety of the occupants," Binay said in a memorandum, excerpts of which were posted on the Office of the Vice President website. In his memorandum issued Friday, he directed the National Housing Authority (NHA), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC), National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHFC) and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) to ensure that all infrastructure projects are soundly constructed. Binay, who is also housing czar, instructed the shelter agencies to immediately prepare and implement relocation plans and coordinate with the local governments should the results of the inspection show that their properties are unsafe. “I have asked the shelter agencies to give me a report by the end of the month to give us time to institute contingency measures. We must be prepared for all eventualities," he said. Gov’t buildings, bridges For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the weekend ordered a reassessment of the structural integrity of government buildings, national bridges and other critical infrastructure. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said the structural integrity check is in support of the government's effort for disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. "(Singson) directed all DPWH Regional and District units to re-conduct inspection of all public buildings particularly hospitals and school buildings, fire and police stations as well national bridges to assess their earthquake vulnerability following the tremor that hit Haiti in 2010 and recent ground shaking in New Zealand and Japan," the DPWH said in a news release. In Metro Manila, structures constructed before the enactment of the National Building Code in 1972 will be inspected. These include:

* Buildings in the Malacañang compound including Malacañan Palace; * The Senate within the GSIS compound in Pasay City; * Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City; and * Supreme Court and Court of Appeals in Manila.

DPWH Undersecretary and Task Force on Building Inspection Head Raul Asis led a team of trained inspectors in the safety checking of National Museum Building in Manila whether this old structure could withstand earthquake. "By doing this periodic checking of structures for signs of cracks and defects, government reduces the possible damage and loss of lives in the event of earthquake with possible immediate engineering intervention," said Asis. The DPWH re-inspection also covers some previously declared condemned building structures in coordination with the local building officials to check whether it is still occupied, no tenants, or have been demolished. DPWH District Offices were also directed to get the local government units from the provincial down to barangay level involved in disaster preparedness by checking local roads and bridges, and public buildings. Also, the DPWH has exerted efforts to prevent or mitigate disaster by subjecting some major old bridges that include San Juanico Bridge and flyovers to rehabilitation/repair by retrofitting works through steel jacketing, use of carbon fiber and re-strengthening/reinforcement of footings. The DPWH is also doubling its efforts to hasten the preparation of plans and other pertinent documents for the reconstruction/rehabilitation/repair of newly identified bridges that manifested signs of wear and tear in Metro Manila. — LBG, GMA News