In observance to the National Disaster Resilience Month, the Department of the Interior and Local Government–National Capital Region (DILG-NCR), through its Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU), significantly strengthened the knowledge of representatives from various bureaus and government agencies, namely the NCRPO, BFP-NCR, BJMPRO-NCR, MMCHD and DepEd-NCR, through their active participation in the Capacity Building Training on Infrastructure Audit and Facility Safety Assessment conducted on July 28, 2026.

The activity aimed to foster a culture of preparedness and resilience among government agencies by providing an in-depth understanding of the conduct of infrastructure audits and assessment of the public buildings and facilities. It emphasizes the importance of systematically evaluating the structural integrity, safety, and functionality of buildings to identify potential hazards, prioritize necessary interventions, and support informed decision-making in disaster risk reduction efforts.

The day’s activity commenced with a discussion facilitated by ENGR III Edwin R. Rodriguez on the Policies and Guidelines in the Implementation of the Infrastructure Audit Program. He explained how the program is anchored with the Department’s mandate and emphasized its significance in promoting safer, more resilient, and disaster-ready infrastructure. He also introduced the use of the Harmonized Infrastructure Audit Tool (HIAT) as a standardized instrument designed to ensure systematic and effective conduct of infrastructure audits.

Building upon this foundation, ENGR III Mikee C. Miranda proceeded with a discussion on the vulnerability indicators of buildings, focusing on the key structural and non-structural metrics that may influence a building’s performance during seismic events. Reinforcing the discussion, she presented various real-life scenarios illustrating the adverse effects of earthquakes, providing a deeper understanding of how these vulnerabilities may lead to varying levels of damage.

The discussion continued with a comprehensive presentation about the use of HIAT, facilitated by ENGR II Brian R. Escabillas, who provided an overview of the tool, its features, and application during the conduct of audits. He explained the different components of each form, highlighting the importance of accurately capturing essential data, which serves as the basis for generating reliable audit results and recommendations.

To further enhance the participants’ understanding of the practical application of the HIAT, a workshop was conducted, facilitated by ENGR III Myza B. Dialoja. Participating stakeholders utilized necessary information from their respective facilities to simulate the assessment process and helped provide participants a hands-on experience in using the tool.

The activity concluded with a closing message from DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III, who expressed her gratitude to the participants and heads of the participating agencies for taking part in the activity. Dir. Agustin underscored, “Infrastructure Audit is not just a technical requirement. It is a shared responsibility that we ensure our government facilities remain safe, functional, and resilient in delivering essential public services.”

Overall, the training served as an avenue to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of the participants in the Infrastructure Audit program, contributing to the effective risk reduction strategies, while recognizing the vital role of collaboration and partnership among participating agencies in advancing a unified approach to infrastructure safety and disaster preparedness.