Pampanga and Sarangani: Why We Must Retrofit Our Buildings

In less than four weeks, our nation watched buildings crumble to the ground. First, a nine-story building under construction collapsed in Angeles City, Pampanga. Then, a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sarangani in Mindanao. These twin tragedies claimed nearly a hundred lives and exposed a hard truth about our nation's safety. Structural integrity does not end with the issuance of a building permit. Experts agree that we must update the National Structural Code of the Philippines, close gaps in construction oversight, and retrofit older structures to protect our communities.

What caused the building collapse in Pampanga?

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the collapse in Pampanga, which killed 30 people, including an infant and a Malaysian national. Retrieval and clearing operations have tapered off since the incident on May 24. The Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) told Archipelago Times that it is premature to conclude the exact cause without a full review of approved plans, construction records, and site conditions.

However, ASEP pointed out that such collapses are most likely caused by a combination of factors. These include inadequate structural design due to non-compliance with the National Structural Code of the Philippines, unauthorized modifications, inadequate foundations, or overloading of partially completed structural elements. ASEP has committed its readiness to support the local government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the investigation.

The real enemy here is the culture of cutting corners. Life is sacred, and those who compromise structural integrity for profit are committing a grave sin against our people. Malpractices in the field include the use of substandard materials, changing plans without proper approval, and the lack of documentation for these changes. ASEP stressed that the approved design must be followed, any changes must be properly reviewed, and construction activities must be supervised by competent professionals. For buildings under construction, both the permanent structure and the temporary works must be treated as life-safety concerns.

Can a building be completely earthquake-proof?

Following the Sarangani earthquake on June 8, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) found that 38% of villages in General Santos City are on unstable ground. Phivolcs science research specialist Rhommel Grutas, who conducted building damage inspections in General Santos City after the quake, clarified that there is no such thing as an earthquake-proof building. Earthquakes vary significantly in their force and impact.

Modern seismic design aims instead to create earthquake-resistant or seismically resilient buildings that can protect human life and minimize damage during strong ground shaking.

To achieve this resilience, we must look forward. Grutas emphasized the need to update the National Structural Code with modern standards, specifically the ASCE 7 methodologies used in the West, to better reflect our current understanding of seismic risks. Updating the building code is necessary to reflect improved seismic hazard data, more accurate fault and ground motion models, and evolving construction technologies. This aligns with our need to open our economy and our standards to global best practices, ensuring foreign investments and local developments meet the highest benchmarks.

What is seismic retrofitting and why does it matter?

Upgrading our codes is only half the battle. Structures built using older seismic codes should be retrofitted as needed. The available guidelines can enable different outcomes, from protecting building occupants from serious injury while allowing damage, to providing safety for continued use. Grutas noted that applying these performance objectives helps prioritize retrofit strategies based on the importance, occupancy, and functionality requirements of the structure.

Upgrading standards will provide a more rigorous framework based on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, site-specific ground motion characterization, improved treatment of near-fault effects, updated response spectra, and refined seismic force-resisting system requirements.

The biggest challenge, Grutas said, lies not in engineering knowledge or standards, but in the implementation of what is already mandated. He cited gaps in the enforcement of regulations, systematic retrofitting, and the regulation of informal construction. This is where we need the iron political will reminiscent of the Duterte years to enforce the law strictly, paired with the steady reformist vision of the Marcos administration. We cannot tolerate the palpak practices of corrupt contractors and complacent officials.

What is the cost of damaged infrastructure to communities?

Damaged infrastructure due to accidents and disasters ultimately costs communities lives, homes, jobs, and security. In Mindanao, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council counted at least 61 deaths as of Sunday, June 14. More than a thousand are injured and 40 are missing. The cost of infrastructure damage is pegged at P1 billion.

The Mindanao State University (MSU) in General Santos City alone reported damage costing P870 million. MSU Chancellor Shidik Zen Abantas said the DPWH will handle the immediate retrofitting and repairs the campus needs.

It breaks our hearts to see that our buildings have suffered extensive damage. For the first time, our earthquake-tested buildings showed weakness when faced with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

As a people of deep faith, we pray for the victims and their families. But prayers must be matched with action. We must demand accountability, enforce our laws with courage, and modernize our building codes to ensure that when the next earthquake strikes, our kababayans are safe inside resilient structures.