President Marcos emphasized the need to adhere to safety standards in building structures and to undertake preparedness measures following the successive earthquakes that rocked various parts of the country.
In his latest vlog entry, Marcos said the Philippines is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire so it is very prone to calamities like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. He cited the earthquakes that hit Cebu, Baguio, Surigao, Davao, Zambales and Metro Manila and damaged several buildings and houses last week.
‘Whether it is an earthquake or the eruption of a volcano, we need to strengthen our disaster preparedness and response,’ the President said.
Marcos said there should be full compliance with policies on constructing structures.
‘Whether it’s a house, a bridge, a building, or any infrastructure, it should be compliant. We have safety standards from the assessment of the land to the integrity of the structure being built. The safety of each Filipino family is at stake here,’ he said.
The President also reminded households to prepare for disasters and to educate their children about the things they should do during an earthquake. He said family members and their companions should know where to evacuate and to ensure that their meeting place is a safe area.
Marcos also advised families to prepare a go bag containing important documents and other possessions that cannot be left behind. The go bag should also contain basic survival items like food, water, first aid kit, medicines, emergency hygiene kit, flashlight, whistle, lighter, rugged phone, radio and emergency cash, he added.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ordered the Office of Civil Defense and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils to immediately intensify earthquake risk reduction measures while ensuring public service continuity.