Metro Manila disaster could affect whole government-Solidum

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology chief Renato Solidum. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—When the “Big One” drops the anvil at the seat of power, the whole country could possibly crumble.

According to Director Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, when a major earthquake, that would tip the Richter Scale to Magnitude 7.2, hits Metro Manila, everything else could topple down along with it.

“Metro Manila is the seat of power, the center of the government, business, and education, we are so concentrated in Metro Manila,” Solidum said Thursday at the Philippine International Convention Center.

“If our national system is affected, our whole government is affected.”

Solidum spoke at ‘‘Iba na ang Panahon,’’ a gathering of risk reduction officials for disaster preparedness which started on March 29 and would end on Friday.

Solidum added that a magnitude 7.2 earthquake with its epicenter inside Metro Manila would cause damages worth P2.3 trillion.

Apart from the initial shaking, the Phivolcs director said that the ensuing fire, collapsing infrastructures that would cause the disruption of water supply, communication, and transportation would be the haymaker.

“We need to ensure the continuity of the socio-economic system,” Solidum said.

Preparedness

Despite the possibility of a mammoth disaster, Solidum said that there is a way to counter the gargantuan damage.

“The main offices should have mirror offices,” Solidum said. “We should evaluate if we should put all our eggs in one basket.”

He added that the practice and earthquake drills have prepared Metro Manila citizens if the “Big One” happens, yet it still falls on the quality of the buildings if it could withstand the shake.

“The training is ample but it falls on the mitigation of the structures if it would withstand the quake.”