IT WAS something that any real estate developer would not want to happen -- the collapse of their building.
Around 9 a.m. Thursday, October 31, a residential building Ecoland 4000 in Ecoland, Davao City partially collapsed following a 6.5-magnitude earthquake. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Tulunan, Cotabato, which is also the epicenter of the 6.6-magnitude earthquake on October 28, 2019. The most recent quake was also felt in Davao City but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has not yet determined the intensity that was felt in Davao City.
It was not only in Davao City where a building collapsed yesterday. In Kindapawan City, Eva's Hotel also partially collapsed.
While earthquakes are a force to reckon with and damages are expected after a strong one, the building collapse begs the question, are the contractors and engineers of different projects in the city observing proper building practices? Has the City Engineer's Office properly inspected the residential towers, office buildings, and large structures in the city?
The collapse of two mid-rise buildings are enough to cause worry among the people living in Davao City and Kidapawan City. Are our buildings really safe? Have developers sacrificed our safety over profit?
Our government has to strengthen its regulations on different structures especially high-rise buildings and mid-rise buildings.
As we said in an earlier editorial, statements from real estate companies saying that "Our building is safe" does not truly give some sense of safety to the tenants or the residents of your structures. They should be more transparent of what happened. The public, especially those who use your buildings would benefit from a detailed report. During times like these, no information should be withheld. We care more about our safety.
As for the government, it might want to strictly implement the building code. It could probably employ more qualified engineers and personnel to look into the buildings of the city.
Following the collapse of structures and damages on some after the two earthquakes that struck Cotabato, people would definitely want to know if the buildings they enter are safe. The public demands transparency and the government and private firms must give it to them. To the real estate companies, the safety of those living or their tenants are a priority. They must communicate and explain to those who are paying them what happened, the current situation, and what will be done.
Again, the safety of the public is a priority. With what happened today, somebody may have forgotten about that.