APD | Infra officials meet with World Bank on investments to improve earthquake resiliency

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

MANILA, August 26 (APD) – Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways led by Secretary Mark A. Villar met with World Bank officials under Ms. Artessa Saldivar-Sali to discuss supporting investments to the DPWH seismic reduction and resilience program.

The meetings were held last week where Science and Technology Undersecretary and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Renato U. Solidum, Jr. presented scenarios and social, economic and other features of risk assessment as well as tools and methods helpful in planning future programs.

DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said preparedness could spell the difference between life and death and between property damage or catastrophic loss. In anticipation of the long-awaited movement of the West Valley fault, the DPWH has an integrated department approach to address earthquake resilience problems. An Earthquake Resilience Program Management Office was created calling on all government agencies to ensure enough measures and interventions for the resiliency of Metro Manila will remain the top priority.

DPWH will undertake inspection and assessment of structural conditions of public facilities and infrastructure in Metro Manila and emphasizing the need for more planning and funding of related activities. DPWH expects the World Bank would provide technical assistance and expertise in package preparation of investments to support risk reduction in schools, hospitals, government buildings as well as improvement of emergency preparedness and response capacity. The program hopes to strengthen the enforcement of building regulations and standards.

In a statement released late Monday morning, the DPWH said they expect World Bank to support the government program for earthquake resilience in the Metro Manila area. Technical assistance has already been extended to DPWH on integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures in the building regulatory framework known as the National Building Code of the Philippines.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)