Friday, July 18, 2008 DPWH to inspect malls, other public places
SHOPPING malls and other areas where many people converge will be the next target for inspection by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Task Force on Building Inspection vice chairman Emmanuel Cuntapay said they want to see if these structures are structurally sound and able to withstand calamities such as earthquake.
"We are very specific about institutional and commercial buildings where the public converges, especially schools, hospitals and shopping malls," he said.
The DPWH official said that he already met with Metro Manila building officials to learn more about inspection procedure to ensure that buildings are safe.
"We have already started, and we are just waiting for the report of our building officials in Manila," he said, adding that they will hold a seminar in Central Luzon next week.
Structures 20 years and above will likewise be inspected.
Cuntapay explained that buildings usually deteriorate after exceeding this threshold.
He added that the DPWH also met and trained engineers and architects from the education and health departments on how to evaluate their buildings.
Cuntapay said he has also ordered checking if there has been any modification done to the buildings.
"We want in particular, to know, which buildings have been subject to fire and other disasters so that they can rectify their status," he said.
On the other hand, he said buildings that underwent modification such as conversion from residential into commercial or institutions need to secure clearance with the building officials concerned before they undergo modifications as their original design will not support the conversions.
"We have instructed our building officials not to renew their certificate of use if they do not get the clearance first because when you convert, the architectural provision of the original design does not match the modifications," he said. (FP/Sunnex)
