The newer and taller buildings are more secured from the anticipated movement of the West Valley Fault.
WEST VALLEY FAULT – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Renato Solidum Jr. expressed that low-rise and mid-rise structures in Metro Manila may be more affected in case the West Valley Fault would move.
Recently, the rampant occurrence of earthquakes in the different areas in the Philippines has alarmed the people. While mostly believe that tall buildings are at risk, Phivolcs’ Director expressed the opposite based on a report in Phil Star Global.
After an quake hit Surigao on February 2017, Dir. Solidum spoke to ANC and expressed that the people usually perceive that the height of the building is linked to the its danger: “The taller the building, the more dangerous it is.”
Solidum added that low-rise and mid-rise structures are more at risk in case the West Valley Fault would move due to the fact that they are short and light.
“Ground shaking fast that would favor more of the lighter meaning the shorter building than tall ones which are heavy,” he expressed according to the news report.
According to the Phivolcs director, when it comes to high-rise structures, the Philippine law is very strict and compliance with the National Building Code makes the said structure safer.
Based on the news report, Solidum expressed that the most recent building code should be observed by the engineers and the developers. He emphasized that the more recent the building code, “the better the design”.
Solidum stated that the adherence to the building code is mandated by the ethical principles and the law. He added that the Intensity 8 shaking can be resisted by following the code.
Based on the report, Pasig, Makati, Quezon, Taguig, and Muntinlupa were among the places that were identified by the Phivolcs that fall along the monitored fault line.
Reportedly, several places in the country were recently-hit by earthquakes. Some of which were parts of Bicol and Eastern Visayas which shook the areas yesterday.
Based on a previous news report, the quake has a magnitude of 5.4 with the epicenter located 89 kilometers northeast of Mapanas, Northern Samar, in the Philippine Sea, at a depth of 27 kilometers below the surface.
The Intensity II was felt in Catarman, Juban, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar while Palo, Leyte and Tacloban City were under Intensity I.
According to Phivolcs’ bulletin, the quake did not lead to damage and there are no tsunami threats.
