DoST calls for stricter building code enforcement as “drop, cover, and hold” may not be enough in quakes

The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) is urging stricter implementation of the country’s building code following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Mindanao, noting that the safety measure “drop, cover, and hold” may not be enough to protect people during strong tremors.

DoST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. told BusinessWorld that while “drop, cover, and hold” remains an advisable safety measure during earthquakes, it is based on the assumption that buildings and infrastructure are designed to withstand strong seismic activity.

“When we tell people to do drop, cover, and hold, where they need to protect themselves, it is based on a prior evaluation,” Mr. Solidum said in an interview during a press conference on Tuesday. “The assumption is that the building or house will not collapse.”

However, he warned that if infrastructure does not comply with the building code, the likelihood of total collapse increases and may become fatal, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement.

“The preparedness of people during earthquakes is dependent on the preparedness of the structure,” Mr. Solidum said. “Did it follow the code? Did it use the right materials? Was the workmanship good during construction?”

Under the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP), standard buildings are not required to remain completely undamaged after a major earthquake, but they must sustain controlled structural damage without collapsing to ensure life safety and allow safe evacuation.

This is achieved through requirements such as comprehensive geotechnical site investigations, proper detailing of beam-column joints for high ductility so they can deform without brittle failure, and the installation of reinforced concrete shear walls to absorb lateral seismic forces.

Mr. Solidum said these standards under the country’s building code should be properly monitored by concerned agencies to ensure compliance during construction.

However, in reality, many Filipinos, especially those building private homes have limited financial capacity to hire professional engineers, often relying on contractors or informal labor, which can result in non-compliance with the building code.

He suggested that local government units (LGUs) distribute standardized house designs that comply with the building code, which residents can follow when constructing homes.

He also recommended integrating disaster-resilient building concepts into the high school curriculum to improve public awareness.

Following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Mindanao, widespread damage was reported in public infrastructure, commercial buildings, and houses.

At least P1.2 billion worth of infrastructure damage has already been reported following the quake, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said as of 6am Wednesday.

The OCD also reported a total of 774 damaged infrastructure and 73,933 damaged houses, of which 13,652 were totally damaged.

To help assess whether a property is safe from earthquakes, the DoST has developed an app called “How Safe Is My House?”, available on smartphones, which provides a quick self-assessment to determine whether a structure is built according to earthquake-resilient construction standards. — Edg Adrian A. Eva