The Office of the Civil Defense-Davao (OCD-11) has urged local government units to prohibit the public from building structures near identified fault lines in the region.

“Kinahanglan nga ang identified fault lines di na gyud na tugutan ibabaw,” OCD-11 Director, Ednar Dayanghirang, said.

During the fourth “Walk the Fault” activity in Davao City, around 75 percent of the fault lines have been marked by personnel of the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), and the OCD-11.

The group marked an area between the Mintal Barangay Hall and the Mintal Gymnasium after it was found to sit on a segment of the Dacudao Fault, one of the active faults under the Davao Central Fault System.

This means it still has the potential to move at any time.

Since earthquake cannot be predicted, residents are urged to brace for possible fault movement.

“Kung mangyari man ang ground shaking dapat walang madisgrasya, no casualties, yan ang objectives natin. That is why we are very proactive in our activity to identify the fault line and disseminate the information and preparedness,” CDRRMO Head, Alfredo Baloran, said.

In Barangay Mintal, at least 60 households were found to have been built above or near the fault line. The number may increase once the inter-agency ground survey conducted by PHIVOLCS is completed.

Residents like Bella Borja said it is better to be aware of what to do, especially since their house was located near the faut line.

“Hadlok kay kato ganing last nga nahibaw-an namo nga maigo, ang akong mama ug papa, buhi paman to, diha ra nako gipahigda sa gawas kay anytime nga simbako og mukuan, duol lang mga tulo lang ka lakang kalsada na,” Borja said.

Since several structures in the area were built long before authorities discovered the active fault underneath, homeowners are advised to inspect their houses for cracks or unusual structural movements and to consult structural engineers to ensure safety.

“‘Yung meron silang na observe na mga unusual ba, dyan sa building nila, meaning to say may mga cracks na nagagalaw yung building. That’s the time ba we can assess na that building is pwede pa ba siyang magamit o hindi na,” Baloran said.

Authorities reminded the public that a five-meter buffer zone on each side of the fault line should be maintained before constructing any structure. However, even within these zones, buildings must be designed to withstand strong quakes.

“The building that you are going to build kailangan kaya niya, is a resilient of at least magnitude 8,” Baloran said.

“Kung intensity po ang pinag-uusapan natin, intensity 6 po dapat doon po nagsisimula ang damage. Sa magnitude, depende sa magnitude,” Kathleen Papiona of DOST-PHIVOLCS added.