Are Your Homes And Offices Can Withstand Powerful Earthquakes?
The Philippines is currently experiencing from series of earthquakes, do your homes, offices, and other establishment can resist powerful earthquakes?
The public was reminded to be more aware and vigilant after suffering from numerous earthquakes that have struck the country for these past few months. Filipinos were also urged to be more prepared for the upcoming earthquakes and impending “Big One.”
On Wednesday (April 12, 2017), Tourism Undersecretary for Media Affairs Kat de Castro from the Department of Tourism (DOT) was reminding all the accredited tourism establishment to perform frequent earthquake drills.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) were already coordinating with the DOT for safety measures and advisories.
“Earthquakes are still considered unpredictable so what we do at the DOT is to work closely with agencies like PHILVOCS and NDRRMC,” said by De Castro quoted by Inquirer.
Both Phivolcs and NDRRMC were leading DOT when earthquakes or any disastrous calamities occurs, following the powerful tremor rocked Batangas Province last Saturday (April 08, 2017).
On Wednesday, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake has also struck the borders of Lanao Del Sur and Bukidnon province.
Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said that the Philippines can experience an average of 20 temblors per day. He also said that with the help of the new quake measuring instrument, more quakes can be recorded.
Solidum also clarified that the Batangas quake has nothing to do with the “Big One,” because it is not connected to the West Valley Fault. He also explained that earthquake is unpredictable and can occur anytime due to numerous fault systems in the country.
The volcanology agency also urged the public to determine if their homes and offices can resist powerful tremors by answering a 12-point questionnaire to (–foul word(s) removed–)s the readiness of their houses.
The readiness of homes, buildings, and other establishments was based on the National Building Code and Structural Code of the Philippines. Phivolcs also explained that a quake-proof house will not collapse facing an intensity 9 quake.
The survey questionnaire can be found on the official Phivolcs website: http://www.philvocs.dost.gov.ph/
You can also download the PDF file of the questionnaire here: http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/images/Flyer-How-Safe-Is-Your-House.pdf
