DILG-NCR, in partnership with the DILG Office of Project Development Services (OPDS) spearheaded a week-long of training in Tagaytay City to capacitate local government units in assessing and strengthening the structural integrity of their buildings, roads, and bridges to withstand huge magnitude earthquakes and other disasters.

The activity brought together DILG-NCR DRRM Focal Persons, Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officers (LDRRMOs), City and Municipal Engineers, Planning and Development Coordinators, Local Council Committee Heads on Appropriations from 17 LGUs in the region.

Engr. Cesar Pabalan, Engr. Wilfredo Lopez, Engr. Adam Abinales, Engr. Juanito Cunanan from Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP); and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Supervising Science Research Specialist Joan Cruz-Salcedo served as resource speakers and shared various engineering technicalities and recommendations, as well as safety tips during an earthquake.

Participants were also given a hands-on exercise in the activity. They visited Pinagkalintikan and Italaro Bridges; and public buildings such as Maharlika East Barangay Hall and Indang Elementary School to simulate infrastructure audit using the forms developed by OPDS.

The activity became a venue for LGUs to list down top priority barangays affected by liquefaction and critical public structures in their area. This is seen to help the National Government in providing immediate actions and appropriate interventions in line with the preparations to ensure the readiness of the LGUs and their constituents for Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake popularly known as the “Big One”.

PO Reynelle A. Cariño