‘Engineering solutions key to quake preparedness’

MANILA, Philippines — Office of Civil Defense administrator Ariel Nepomuceno has reiterated the importance of strengthening engineering solutions and building code compliance in preparation for earthquakes, especially the “Big One.”

“I will say it again. Engineering solutions and compliance with the building code are the best preparedness measures for earthquakes. We really need to improve our efforts for these alongside other measures. We need to ensure that buildings and facilities are strong enough to withstand strong earthquakes,” Nepomuceno said over the weekend.

“Again, let us be reminded of the casualty projection for a magnitude 7.2 earthquake generated by the West Valley Fault. At least 30,000 to 48,000 individuals might die in the greater Metro Manila area. This is a very clear indication that there are a lot of things that we must do to advance our preparedness for earthquakes,” he said.