Phivolcs chief to church officials: Check stability of old churches

The head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology is urging Catholic Church officials to check and ensure the stability of churches, especially old ones, to ensure they are safe from earthquakes. Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr. suggested that Church officials tap professional help from civil and structural engineers to check on the strength of church edifices, especially after the recent quakes that rocked the Asian region. “Kung hindi sila nakapaghanda para sa mga ganitong pangyayari, maaaring mas marami ang nasawi," Solidum said. Solidum said that while Catholics flock to churches to attend Mass regularly, tourists also visit old church in various parts of the country. Thus, he said church authorities should have social responsibility and show concern for the safety of churchgoers and visitors. According to the CBCP, the Philippines has had destructive earthquakes in Manila, specifically in Intramuros. The most destructive earthquake to hit the Philippines was the one that originated from the Philippine Fault Zone in 1880. Solidum said many churches in Manila and Infanta, Quezon, were destroyed by the magnitude-7.5 quake. He added that even if churches were made of lime, rocks, and egg-white, the solidity of the structures will depend on where these are constructed. Solidum also said Filipinos should be able to prepare and focus on community preparedness which was manifested in northeastern Japan. The Japanese have long prepared for natural calamities such as earthquakes and tsunamis but what is far important is the level of community preparedness, he said. — LBG, GMA News