Ensure earthquake-preparedness of buildings, Robredo urges

Vice President Leni Robredo has emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety features of high-rise buildings amid the magnitude-6.5 earthquake that rocked Leyte last Thursday.

Robredo made the statement in her weekly radio program, noting that these features must be checked at all times to ensure that buildings and surrounding homes and establishments can withstand such unexpected calamities.

“Siguro iyong hindi masyadong binibigyan ng pansin ngayon, iyong pag-i-inspect ng matataas na buildings. Kasi alam mo, iba pa iyong requirements noon. Lalo na kung magre-renew [ng permit], baka hindi pa siya nag-comply sa bagong mga requirements para maging earthquake-proof iyong mga buildings,” she said.

“Kaya iyong hinihikayat talaga, kahit noong nakaraang pang taon, kung nakatira ka sa isang mataas na building, siguraduhin mo sa may-ari na ito ay na-test na for safety,” she added.

The vice president added that the public should take information drives about earthquake preparedness seriously.

“Naaalala ko, iyong nakaraang taon – nasa Congress pa ako noon – mayroong mga usap-usapan na magkakaroon ng malakas na earthquake. Nag-attend din tayo ng ilan sa mga briefing, at isa sa mga itinuro sa atin, kailangan mayroon ka nang earthquake bag,” Robredo said.

“Iyong bag para just in case magkaroon ng lindol, kasi iyong chances na mata-trap ka sa loob ay napakalaki. Kaya makakatulong iyong may dala kang tubig, may dala kang flashlight, may dala kang kung anu-anong mga kailangan. Kasi iyong iba, hindi naman agad namamatay kapag nata-trap sa loob. Pero sa tagal na hindi nila ma-rescue, doon sila talaga nag-e-expire,” she added.

In her radio program, Robredo interviewed Leyte Governor Dominico Petilla and Kananga town Mayor Rowena Codilla of the municipality of Kananga.

Two persons were killed in the earthquake, a man after a building in Kananga collapsed, and an 18-year-old woman after being hit by debris.

“So we have one fatality na doon sa building na gumuho and we have mga, so far seven na in-patients and most of the other injuries, puro mga out-patients lang naman. So parang kumbaga, mayroon din tayong mga nasirang mga facilities, pero hindi, not as much as we expected,” Petilla said.

According to Petilla, the provincial government is currently assessing the infrastructure damage in affected areas, including school building and other establishments, to see possible repair needs.

Codilla, meanwhile, said affected residents would rather receive housing assistance than food packs.

At least 73 families have already been evacuated following the quake, she added. —Erwin Colcol/ALG, GMA News