Makati gov’t notes low compliance with DPWH order on buildings

Only 28 medium- and high-rise buildings older than 15 years old have submitted certificates of structural stability required by law, according to the Makati City Hall.

“For the safety and welfare of the occupants, clients and visitors of buildings in Makati, we enjoin your immediate compliance with the directive of the DPWH,” Mayor Abigail Binay said in a statement.

Under regulations issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), a certificate of structural stability can only be issued after passing a comprehensive evaluation by a structural engineer.

The Makati local government has asked the owners of high-rise buildings to comply with the standards to ensure structural stability in the event of strong earthquake.

Records of the Office of the Building Official (OBO) also revealed that only 34 of 197 high-rise buildings—structures which are 16 stories or higher—have installed required seismographs.

Only five of the 34 were issued certificates by the OBO. These are Lerato Tower 1, Signa Tower 2, The Residence Makati Place Towers 1 and 2, The World Center and Eton Parkview Greenbelt.

The OBO learned of the low compliance figure after it asked building administrators to submit seismograph readings after a series of earthquakes hit Batangas province last April.

The seismographs or accelerometers are required in structures over 50 meters high, as orderd by the DPWH in Memorandum Circular No. 3 s. 2011.

Binay asked building owners and administrators to comply with regulations after the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study projected severe impact on Makati City in case of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake.

The study projected deaths of 21,205; 84,822 injured, and 1,260,000 affected people.

Meanwhile, 9,092 structures will be heavily damaged, 16,694 partially damaged while 4,983 will be burned down.

“Let us heed the warning signs and make sure our buildings and structures can withstand the ‘Big One’ if and when it actually happens,” Binay said.