Recovery plan should be in place before earthquake hits – Phivolcs chief

With an earthquake expected to occur in Metro Manila within our lifetimes, it's important to focus on mitigation and preparedness. However, it is also important to prepare a reconstruction plan for after earthquake, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) director Renato Solidum on Friday.

"This is not done in many big disasters, the formulation of a reconstruction system prior to the occurrence of the disaster. (Whether) it's Yolanda or a strong earthquake, if anticipated properly, we need to have a reconstruction system," he said on the second day of "Iba na ang Panahon Ngayon: Science for Safer Communities", a summit organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

He said "detailed examinations of the various action plans in Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces" were done at a workshop earlier this week in preparation for the earthquake that may occur in Metro Manila.

"There were more than 130 action plans (on earthquakes) that we looked at and we asked clusters to pinpoint top three strengths and top three weaknesses and points of collaboration, which will be the next step — the next priority action plan that we must do," Solidum said.

He said that there are six goals in Earthquake Risk Management:

• Goal 1: Earthquake-resilient national systems
• Goal 2: Earthquake-resistant urban structures
• Goal 3: Enhanced risk and emergency management
• Goal 4: Increased community resilience
• Goal 5: Reconstruction systems
• Goal 6: Earthquake and tsunami resilience research and development

"Nobody touched the reconstruction system. Ito po ay isang mahirap na objective pero ito po ay kailangan nating gawin. I hope the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority), the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority), Civil Defense or DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), kung sino mang national agency, would focus on the reconstruction plan even before a big disaster affects Metro Manila," he added.

Faster recovery post-disaster

"Since we can anticipate the potential impact of a disaster, (it would be good) to have a draft (of a) recovery or reconstruction plan so that when the actual event (occurs), we have already a plan to follow (and) we can respond and recover very fast," he told GMA News Online in a separate interview.

Without a prepared reconstruction plan, stakeholders would have to "sit down and plan", a procedure that will take time, after the disaster has happened. And this could make a difference on the status of the affected areas.

"The disaster is not only due to the actual event, but also in the 'lingering disaster' or further impact after a disaster could continue," Solidum said.

In a major earthquake, for instance, water or food may become scarce. Many of the victims could be lying in hospitals injured from the event. During these times, it is crucial that they receive the things they need in the shortest time possible.

When asked which government office is in charge of drafting the reconstruction plan, Solidum said "it has to be discussed". However, he said, reconstruction and recovery should not be in the hands of only one office.

In the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management framework, NEDA is the lead agency of the committee on recovery and rehabilitation.

"Reconstruction and recovery would be led by NEDA, but many other agencies should lead it. The reconstruction plan would also need the private industry or the private sector's assistance. Therefore the reconstruction plan should be done as a group or as a whole of society approach," Solidum added.

Possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake

In July 2013, the Phivolcs chief warned of a possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake that may occur in the West Valley Fault along the eastern side of Metro Manila.

The West Valley Fault runs from the Sierra Madre down to Laguna. It crosses the eastern side of Quezon City, western side of Marikina, western part of Pasig, eastern part of Makati, parts of Taguig, and Muntinlupa.

However, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake can shake the whole of Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces.

Earthquakes are impossible to predict, but based on historical records, the West Valley fault moves every 400 years, give or take 10 to 100 years. The last time an earthquake occurred along the fault was in 1658, around 355 years ago. — JDS, GMA News