Mayor Binay deploys inspection teams to check Makati buildings

Photo courtesy of Makati City government

MANILA, Philippines — Inspection teams tasked to check on various buildings in Makati City were deployed on Tuesday following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that struck parts of Luzon — including Metro Manila — on Monday.

Inspections were made in malls, schools, government offices, hospitals, and residential towers following the orders of Makati City Mayor Abby Binay to the Office of the Building Official (OBO) and the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW).

Photo courtesy of the Makati City government

“All building management and administrators are strictly ordered to allow unimpeded access to the inspection teams and provide the needed information and cooperation to ensure a thorough and speedy assessment,” Binay said in a memorandum issued.

READ: Magnitude 6.1 earthquake shakes parts of Luzon

Among the private properties that have been inspected include Century City and Rockwell Center, Circuit Makati, Rufino Tower, Pacific Star, and Eton Tower.

The City Hall Complex, Unibersidad ng Makati, Ospital ng Makati, barangay halls and health centers, multi-purpose and covered courts, and Makati Homes I and II, were also inspected.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education-Makati has said that only Makati Science High School and La Paz Elementary School reported minor cracks in its buildings, particularly in comfort rooms in the schools’ perimeter fences.

Continuous monitoring

Binay has also ordered the deployment of units tasked to monitor and provide assistance to affected residents.

Personnel of the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), Makati Social Welfare Department and Makati Health Department were placed on standby in its mobile command vehicle, which serves as its Incident Command Post, at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle.

Traffic units were also deployed in view of the increase in traffic volume following the earthquake.

The city’s safety officers, meanwhile, are still assessing barangays (villages) for total damages. /jpv