Earthquake preparedness
The Philippines is slowly becoming typhoon and flood-resilient, yet we need better preparedness for earthquakes, not leaving things to chance.
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The Philippines is slowly becoming typhoon and flood-resilient, yet we need better preparedness for earthquakes, not leaving things to chance.
A magnitude-6.8 earthquake rocked southern Mindanao recently, causing nine deaths and billions in damage. The epicenter was in Sarangani, one of the country's southernmost provinces, and it was felt in the entire Davao Region.
Videos were shared immediately after the incident, showing horrific images taken by individuals who were fearing for their lives.
In a mall in General Santos City, the shaking caused ceiling panels to fall to the ground floor.
The mall was constructed to have a high ceiling above an ample open space where people could gather.
As the earthquake happened, people ran in different directions, some toward a fast-food restaurant to shield themselves from the falling debris.
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There was a video of a gymnasium filled with young students where a sportsfest was being held.
The lights went out, and screaming ensued. Thankfully, no one was severely injured in the stampede towards the exit.
In much more urbanized Davao City, a video of a crane falling from the top floor of a condominium under construction was shared online. Watching such a huge piece of equipment fall several stories to the ground was terrifying. No casualties or injuries were reported in this incident.
All this occurred while President Bongbong Marcos Jr. was in the United States on an official trip.
When asked by reporters if he would cut his trip short to attend to the disaster, he correctly answered that there would be no impending need for this since the government had already responded.
He was closely monitoring the incident and even presided over disaster meetings via video conference.
Vice President Sara Duterte, a native of Mindanao, visited the earthquake site and personally met with victims, bringing with her the deep concern of President Marcos Jr.
This was the second big earthquake in this administration. The first was last year's magnitude-7.0 earthquake in Northern Luzon, particularly in Abra, which caused 11 deaths and nearly P2 billion in damage.
Several earthquakes are felt all over the Philippines within a single year.
We can assume that once a year, we feel what is considered a "strong earthquake" of 6.8 magnitude.
The Philippines is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, and we are surrounded by five trenches — the Manila, Philippine, Negros, Sulu and Cotabato. Hence, we should be accustomed to earthquakes that are felt all the time, and be ready for them like how the Japanese are prepared.
We must go beyond the usual "duck, cover, and hold" tactic for individuals and go into actual government spending on infrastructure that could withstand earthquakes and enact policies with this in mind.
Japan has a reported budget of 1.1 trillion yen, or approximately P407 billion, per year for disaster prevention.
This goes into all aspects of a major earthquake — from awareness and preparedness to prediction and possible aftermaths such as collapsed building recovery, infrastructure repair, food and water security, and tsunami inundation.
The goal is to reduce major earthquake damage and deaths by half should an earthquake strike again.
From what I understand, there are no such plans or budgets in our country. Yet, I am curious and will continue to ask.
We must not wait for another 7.8-magnitude earthquake to hit us, which was the intensity felt in Luzon in 1990 that caused 1,621 deaths. The Philippines is slowly becoming typhoon and flood-resilient, yet we need better preparedness for earthquakes, not leaving things to chance.
For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com.
