Baricuatro urges 10 earthquake high-risk LGUs to conduct structural integrity assessments

CEBU CITY— Taking a decisive stance on disaster prevention, Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro is set to issue formal directives to at least 10 local government units (LGUs) identified as highly vulnerable to severe seismic activity, strongly urging the local chief executives to conduct immediate structural integrity assessments on all public and private buildings and to tighten enforcement of earthquake-resilient building standards.

“Disaster resilience is not achieved through response alone. It requires strong institutions, informed planning, scientific understanding of risks, and sustained collaboration among all sectors,” declared Baricuatro.

The proactive measure marks a strategic pivot from traditional disaster response to data-driven risk mitigation. By pushing for local-level compliance, Capitoll aims to assist municipalities and cities in identifying vulnerable infrastructure that requires immediate retrofitting or complete decommissioning.

The directive mandates high-risk LGUs to systematically audit and classify both public infrastructure and private developments to ensure they comply with the National Building Code.

Engineering Threshold: Structures must be evaluated against their capacity to withstand a Magnitude 7.0 earthquake, which experts warn could cause catastrophic damage if infrastructure is left unverified.

The policy was officially adopted as an action point during the second quarter meeting of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), presided over by Governor Baricuatro on June 29, at the Provincial Capitol.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano, who formally moved for the adoption of the measure, underscored the urgency of structural screening: "We must make a concerted effort to assess the buildings, classify them for retrofitting, and explicitly pinpoint structures that cannot withstand a major Magnitude 7 earthquake."

Data-driven risk assessment: The REDAS Simulations

The policy shift was prompted by an alarming presentation from the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) that  showcased five distinct simulated Earthquake Impact Calculations specifically mapped for Cebu.

These projections were generated using the Earthquake Impact Assessment Module, a specialized tool within the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS). Developed by PHIVOLCS, REDAS simulates localized ground shaking to rapidly forecast physical structural damage, potential casualties, and immediate economic losses in the event of a major rupture.

Engr. Robinson Jorgio, Director of the DOST-PHIVOLCS 7 Visayas Cluster Monitoring Center for Earthquake and Tsunami, confirmed that both geological fault lines are currently classified as "potentially active," meaning they present real, tangible long-term threats to the province.

Following the ranking of the most severely impacted areas presented by DOST-PHIVOLCS, Cebu Province will dispatch official communications outlining specific timelines for the LGUs. Local engineering offices will be tasked with conducting the physical audits, updating local zoning safety protocols, and ensuring strict compliance with modern seismic design codes. (Photos: Capitol PIO)