Legarda Reiterates Call for Community Preparedness, Safe Structures Against Earthquakes

FOLLOWING A STRONG TEMBLOR THAT HIT SEVERAL PARTS OF VISAYAS, SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA TODAY EXPRESSED SYMPATHY TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DISASTER AS SHE RENEWED HER CALL FOR EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CITIZENS.
On Monday, the provinces of Cebu and Kalibo experienced an Intensity IV (moderately strong) tremor, while Iloilo and Negros were hit by an Intensity V (strong) earthquake. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Intensity V earthquakes can cause damages to buildings that are not structurally sound.
“Sound engineering practices and community preparedness-which means not only government readiness but also citizen awareness on what to do when such hazards occur-would ensure minimal damages due to earthquakes,” Legarda said.
“Evaluation and retrofitting of public and private infrastructure is crucial in ensuring that buildings, bridges and other similar structures can withstand strong quakes; while the conduct of earthquake drills will enable our citizens to respond quickly and this will equip our people with knowledge of what to do before, during, and after such disasters,” the Senator stressed.
Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, is organizing regional workshops, which will start on February 24, for effective disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) for local government units, national government agencies, non-government organizations, academe, youth, and media to inform them of the alarming impact of disasters and climate change and to link these stakeholders in the implementation of potential DRR and CCA strategies.