The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) highlighted the crucial role of engineering solutions in earthquake preparedness following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar.

OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said that no preparations would be effective if buildings and infrastructure were not designed to withstand strong earthquakes.

"Mabigat na sitwasyon iyan, kahit anong paghahanda natin. Ang mas mahalaga pagdating sa paghahanda, iyong engineering solution talaga (That's a difficult situation, no matter how much we prepare. What’s more important when it comes to preparation is really the engineering solution)," he said in a radio interview on Monday.

He stressed that emergency drills and preparedness measures would be meaningless if structures and establishments were not built to withstand strong earthquakes.

Citing studies, Nepomuceno warned that a major earthquake could instantly kill between 30,000 and 50,000 residents in Metro Manila and nearby areas, with about 160,000 more likely to suffer severe injuries.

"Pagdating sa paghahanda, kailangan ang first step talaga ay engineering solution — mailatag ng todo. Kailangan maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na huwag umasa lang sa national government (When it comes to preparation, the first step really has to be a well-laid-out engineering solution. Our fellow citizens need to understand that they shouldn't rely solely on the national government)," he reiterated.

Nepomuceno also advised those applying for building and construction permits to ensure compliance with safety standards.