QC gov’t orders mandatory structural integrity audit of all buildings

• Source: https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/09/18/qc-govt-orders-mandatory-structural-integrity-audit-of-all-buildings/
• Wednesday, September 19, 2018

By Chito Chavez

Quezon City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista has ordered a mandatory structural integrity audit of all buildings in the city, private and government, to assess potentially hazardous structures.

Bautista signed City Ordinance 2724-2018 compelling the city’s Engineering Department (QCED), Department of Building Official (DBO), and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO) to conduct the audit, particularly on structures that are built 30 years ago and those that are located in fault line or danger zones.

Introduced by Councilor Ramon Medalla, the ordinance states that the audit aims to evaluate and assess potentially hazardous structures and buildings within the territorial jurisdiction of the city that are vulnerable to severe damage in the event of an earthquake.

“The Quezon City Government mandates the promotion and development of an earthquake risk reduction and management program in order to mitigate, if not to eliminate, the effects of major natural and man-made disasters as well as to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of Quezon City residents,” the ordinance said.

The Engineering Department will be in-charge of the structural integrity audit of buildings built and owned by local and national government while the DBO will look at the privately-owned buildings’ structural integrity.

On the other hand, QCDRRMO will be responsible for identifying whether the site is located along the west valley fault and danger zones.

Before the inspection, a notice of structural audit will be sent to the owner.

Upon receiving the said notice, a structural audit must be conducted within 30 days and and a “structural audit report” submitted to DBO.

The owner’s Occupancy Certificate will be revoked if he or she fails to carry out the needed repairs and restorations. Refusal to carry out these reforms will result in the filing of criminal charges against the building owner.

“The city government desires to strengthen the city’s resiliency against human induced or natural disaster by recognizing the vision, policy framework, and strategies capitalized on disaster risk reduction and management in QC,” the ordinance read.