PH ‘more prepared’ for ‘big one’ – Phivolcs chief

THE Philippines is more prepared for the “big one” if it happens due to the government’s regular earthquake drills, among others, that has raised public awareness, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Tuesday.

Residents salvage belongings from the rubble of Imoulas village in the Taroudant province, one of the most devastated in quake-hit Morocco, on September 11, 2023. Moroccan rescuers supported by newly-arrived foreign teams on September 11 faced an intensifying race against time to dig out any survivors from the rubble of mountain villages, on the third day after the country’s strongest-ever earthquake. AFP PHOTO 

“We are more prepared now than say, 20 or years ago,” said Phivolcs director Teresito “Toto” Bacolcol.

Bacolcol issued the statement following the deadly magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8 where over nearly 3, 000 people have died.

He said the big factor of Filipinos’ awareness is the regular earthquake drills being carried out by the national and local governments.

“We can say that we are now more prepared because we are already aware, especially with the earthquake drills that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is conducting every quarter,” the Phivolcs chief said.

He told The Manila Times that his agency has been constantly communicating with the concerned government agencies, as well as local government units (LGUs), especially in implementing measures to minimize the impacts of earthquakes in their turf.

“They must make sure that the big buildings or structures that are being constructed are meeting the requirements under the Building Code that they can withstand a strong earthquake,” Bacolcol said.

But he said that the people must always be ready by keeping an emergency bag that contains medicines, among others and food that can last at least up to three days.

Bacolcol cited some LGUs like Quezon City, Makati City, Pasig City and Muntinlupa City that have been implementing measures to encourage those residents living above the West Valley Fault (WVF) to transfer to other places.

“We can cite for example the LGU of Quezon City that has on-going projects as they constantly remind homeowners and residents affected by the West Valley Fault to move out and transfer away from the fault line,” he said.

In its previous study, Phivolcs had said that Quezon City and Manila would have the highest number of casualties if a magnitude 7.2 quake emanates from the WFV.

It said that close to 6,000 people could die in Quezon City alone while more than 24, 000 could be seriously injured.

The villages of Batasan Hills, Commonwealth, Bagong Silangan, Holy Spirit and Matandang Balara would be the most affected areas in case a major tremor occurs, Phivolcs said. — Arlie O. Calalo

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