In an effort to promote resilience to natural disasters and man-made calamities, Senator Bong Go expressed the need to provide more effective regulation of planning, design, construction, occupancy, and maintenance of all public and private buildings and structures in the country as he pushed for his proposed Philippine Building Act of 2022.
In an interview after attending the “Kasalang Bayan” in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Go shared that he introduced Senate Bill No. 1181 to push for a stronger whole-of-nation approach in dealing with disasters in the country.
The proposed measure seeks to amend Presidential Decree 1096, known as the National Building Code of the Philippines, to ensure that all buildings and structures are built according to the principle of “building back better”.
“It seeks to provide more effective regulation of planning, design, construction, occupancy, and maintenance of all public and private buildings and structures promoting building resilience against natural and man-made calamities.”
“It seeks to provide more effective regulation of planning, design, construction, occupancy, and maintenance of all public and private buildings and structures promoting building resilience against natural and man-made calamities,” the legislator explained.
The lawmaker pointed out that the National Building Code had been enacted in 1977, making it long overdue for an update to make sure it remains relevant to the changing times.
The senator also mentioned the recent earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 41,000 individuals.
“Alam n’yo, ang ating Building Code, naipasa po ito, 1977 pa. So, panahon na po na dapat nating pag-aralan ang ating National Building Code,” he stressed.
“Tingnan n’yo po ang nangyari sa ibang bansa, ‘yung sa earthquake. Tingnan nating mabuti kung naaayon pa ba itong mga istraktura at ang ating National Building Code (sa kasalukuyang panahon, at kung) nasusunod pa ba,” Go added.
A series of devastating earthquakes hit southern and central Türkiye and northern and western Syria on February 6, 2023.
A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Türkiye and northern and western Syria on February 6, 2023, followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake nine hours later. The Philippine Embassy in Ankara reported that two Filipinos living in Türkiye had died as a result of the disaster.
Meanwhile, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, a Filipino mother and her three children are still missing.
Go then emphasized the need to prioritize the lives, safety, and health of all Filipinos when constructing buildings and other structures.
“Buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino ang nakataya dito.”
“Importante po para sa akin, safety po. Buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino ang nakataya dito at primary consideration in constructing and building and other structures is building back better,” he reiterated.
If the measure is passed into law, the National Building Official will be primarily responsible for its execution, administration and enforcement, while a Building Regulations and Standards Council will be established to assist the NBO in reviewing and recommending rules and regulations and reference standards to accomplish the objectives of the proposed law.
The bill also covers the review and inspection of old buildings to ensure that structural integrity of these structures are compliant.
To promote accountability among stakeholders, building owners of any proposed construction or existing building or structure will also be asked to secure the appropriate permits from the Local Building Official, prior to the start of such work or occupancy.
Lastly, in coordination with relevant agencies, the NBO will develop and administer incentive schemes, such as those allowed by the disaster risk reduction and management funds, to promote voluntary compliance and to encourage business owners to support the use of environmentally sound or sustainable materials, methods, practices, and technologies.
“Ngayon po, pinapaigting ang ating infrastructure projects (kaya naman kailangan na) mas lalong pagtibayin natin ang mga istraktura na ginagawa (sa bansa) at tingnan nang mabuti ang National Building Code natin (kung) nasusunod ba ayon sa panahon ngayon,” he explained.
Aside from the Philippine Building Act of 2022, Go previously pointed out that the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience through his proposed SBN 188 can ensure a more proactive approach to natural disasters.
The DDR will bring together all essential functions and mandates currently scattered among various disaster-related agencies.
Go also filed SBN 193 or the Mandatory Evacuation Center Act which seeks to mandate the creation of permanent, safe and properly equipped evacuation centers in every municipality, city and province across the Philippines.
