GenSan looking to revisit construction policies after M7.8 earthquake

Following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck offshore Sarangani on June 8, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) of General Santos City is considering revisiting their city’s construction policies.

“Meron pong specific study po talaga na kinakailangan bago po tayo mag-retrofit o bago po tayo mag-expand at kinakailangan talaga nating sumunod,” General Santos CDRRMC Head Dr. Agripino Dacera Jr. said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB Sunday.

(A specific study is necessary before we retrofit or expand, and we truly need to comply.)

“At sabi ko nga po, mukhang kinakailangan natin i-revisit ‘yung ating mga polisiya sa construction lalong-lalo na po doon sa mga identified na po natin na lugar na mapanganib,” Dacera added.

(As I’ve said, it appears that we need to revisit our construction policies, especially in areas we have already identified as hazardous.)

As of Sunday, Dacera reported that seven buildings have totally collapsed, while 36 government buildings, 63 barangay structures, and 45 schools sustained structural damage.

Meanwhile, six government buildings, four barangay structures, and 25 schools have been cleared and marked safe during post-disaster inspection.

Based on the assessment of the GenSan CDRRMO, the area of Lagao, or the eastern portion of the city, sustained the most structural damage from the tremor.

“Ito po yung mga nandoon sa liquefaction-prone area, at alam naman po natin ang danger po, ang generator po ng liquefaction is a strong earthquake,” Dacera said.

(These are the structures located in liquefaction-prone areas, and we all know the danger—the trigger for liquefaction is a strong earthquake.)

According to the CDRRMO head, these assessments will serve as a reference for possible amendments to local construction policies.

Dacera clarified that the changes do not aim to ban construction, but rather to enforce stricter compliance with the building code and local policies indicated in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and zoning code.

Relief and recovery phase

General Santos City is now in the relief and initial recovery phase, with clearing operations underway and traffic almost back to normal, according to Dacera.

As of Sunday, the city's death toll stands at 22, with one person missing and 67 injured individuals still admitted to hospitals. Another 439 injured individuals have since been discharged.

Authorities said the earthquake affected 24,789 families, or 88,208 individuals. Damage assessments show 20,803 partially damaged houses and 2,741 totally destroyed homes.

Almost a week after the earthquake, many families remain in evacuation centers due to continuous aftershocks, while others have no houses to go back to, Dacera said. —RF, GMA News