Philippines: Compliance to building standards sought
"It is true that 25% of our buildings are not compliant with standards for a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and they could crumble," Under-Secretary Benito T. Ramos, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director admitted during a radio interview yesterday, reports BusinessWorld. The statement was issued further to the devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan last Friday that triggered tsunami warnings worldwide, including the Philippines.
"The DPWH, MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) and LGUs (local government units) must [..] ensure that all public and private infrastructure are resilient," urged Senator Loren Legarda during the same radio interview.