More than 21,000 public school buildings and health facilities are set to undergo retrofitting as part of efforts by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to address long-term disaster preparedness.
The OCD said it is focused on building strategies to tackle natural hazards and ensure readiness for the anticipated “Big One”—a potential 7.2 magnitude earthquake.
OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno revealed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has directed the agency to ensure that disaster response efforts continue beyond the immediate aftermath while working on long-term solutions.
“His specific instructions are, if there’s a huge incident, the aid for our countrymen should not stop as an initial response during calamities,” Nepomuceno said. “Second, we should look for long-term solutions. Again, these are not easy to craft, but there’s a roadmap for the various types of calamities that we are monitoring.”
Nepomuceno also pointed out that the Philippines is currently unprepared for an earthquake of a magnitude similar to the recent 7.7 quake in Myanmar and Thailand, which resulted in significant casualties.
To strengthen preparedness, the government is refining its nationwide earthquake drills, including the “duck, cover, and hold” exercise. Future drills will simulate different scenarios, such as a nighttime earthquake or tsunami threats, to ensure a comprehensive response.
Key agencies such as the Armed Forces, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and local government volunteers will be involved in disaster response efforts.
In line with its disaster preparedness strategy, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has assessed over 21,000 public school buildings and health facilities across the country, with many buildings slated for retrofitting to meet international earthquake standards. DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral highlighted the importance of these assessments during a recent briefing.
“The assessment is continuous, and this covers not only public infrastructure but also public school buildings and health facilities,” Cabral said. “We have assessed more than 21,000 public buildings, many of which we will recommend for retrofitting.”
So far, several buildings have already been retrofitted, and an additional 500 are scheduled for upgrades using local funds, official development assistance, and partnerships with the World Bank. Cabral also emphasized the need to assess bridges, especially in Metro Manila, due to their critical role in the economy.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, Nepomuceno shared that Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has launched the “green and safe” hospitals program, which focuses on retrofitting government-owned hospitals to withstand disasters.
