Stressing that Quezon City should take the lead in disaster preparedness and management in the National Capital Region, Mayor Herbert Bautista called for a massive participation of all stakeholders in the July 30 metro-wide earthquake drill being organized by the government to test the implementation of national and local contingency plans for emergency situations, such as earthquakes.
Among those being mobilized by the Mayor are the city’s 142 barangays, public and private schools, commercial establishments, people’s organizations, non-government organizations, government and private hospitals, churches, government offices, media organizations and other community-based institutions.
According to the Mayor, the groups’ participation in the July 30 activity shall be instrumental in determining the inter-operability of the contingency plans that will be instituted and in addressing what is lacking in the system. “It will be a futile exercise if all those provided trainings by the QC government in disaster preparedness will not be able to participate in the earthquake drill,” the Mayor said.
The Mayor said it is imperative that the city’s 142 barangays should also come up with their earthquake drills on July 30 considering that they are the frontliners in the delivery of basic services to city residents.
Mayor Bautista directed QC disaster risk reduction management council action officer Elmo San Diego to coordinate with representatives of these stakeholders for the purpose of determining their participation in the drill.
The Mayor recommended that a pre-earthquake drill be conducted by the QC government on July 15 to determine what is lacking in the city’s disaster preparedness and mitigation program.
During Wednesday’s regular executive committee meeting at QC Hall, the Mayor reiterated the need for the retrofitting of QC-based buildings, especially those constructed 15 years ago or years earlier, to ensure the structural integrity of their structures, considering that the West Valley Fault lies within QC and nearby communities.
According to the QC department of building official, there are about 15,000 buildings located in QC. Of the total, 10,000 buildings were constructed 15 years ago or years earlier. The Mayor said the conduct of the structural audit has been launched by the city government since 2010.
QC building official Engr. Isagani Versoza said buildings constructed 15 years ago and or years earlier are being given priority in the structural audit. The offices of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Social Security System, Department of Agriculture and the House of Representatives are among those identified by Engr. Versoza as the ones that need to undergo retrofitting measures.
The Mayor said that he will request the House of Representatives to allocate funds for the retrofitting of the Congress building. (Precy)
Posted By: Edrillan Pasion
