No seismogram, no permit, Makati warns contractors

No seismogram, no occupancy permit.

This was the condition set by the Makati government to owners, developers and contractors of high-rise buildings under construction in the city.

In a memorandum issued earlier, building official and city engineer Nelson Morales reiterated that installation of seismograms is mandatory for high-rise buildings under construction, and noncompliance could be a ground for denial of their application for an occupancy permit.

The National Building Code requires the issuance of an occupancy permit before a new building can be used or occupied. A building first needs to meet prescribed standards in various aspects, including mechanical, electrical, sanitary/plumbing and fire safety, to secure an occupancy permit.

Meanwhile, Morales also issued a memorandum to all owners and administrators of existing high-rise buildings in Makati, advising them that they are given three years to comply with the directive.

“Failure to do so after the three-year grace period, which started last June, shall mean the revocation of the occupancy permit of the building,” he said.

He explained that the directive was part of the city government’s move to strengthen Makati’s resilience to disasters.

Seismograms, also called accelerometers, can monitor ground movement during an earthquake as well as the buildings’ response during a typhoon.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the installation of seismograms was an urgent measure included among the policies and guidelines contained in a memorandum circular recently issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways to building officials and local engineers.

“We believe this directive must be strictly implemented right away because no one can tell when a strong earthquake will strike Metro Manila. We cannot know how strong it will be, so we must prepare now,” Binay said in a statement.

DPWH Memorandum Circular No. 03 dated March 31, 2011 cites Section 105(2) of the National Structural Code of the Philippines, which requires the installation of seismograms in structures over 50 meters high, or equivalent to 50-story buildings.

At present, there are over 100 high-rise buildings and around 30 more under construction in the country’s financial center.