THE 20th Davao City Council approved on third and final reading Davao City Earthquake Disaster Response Ordinance during the 40th Regular Session on Tuesday morning, October 24, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The ordinance has adopted the General Building Requirements under Section 104 of the National Building Code of the Philippines which dictates that all buildings and structures must be designed for their intended purpose, ensuring adequate environmental safeguards. These structures, along with their associated facilities, must be maintained in a safe, sanitary, and good working condition, ensuring the safety and functionality of the intended purpose.
In a media interview with First District Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Jr., the proponent of the ordinance, he said that this ordinance requires building owners to put up Earthquake Recording Instruments (ERIs) in their buildings to monitor earthquakes and help buildings become stronger.
“Maiwasan ang further disaster or further damage sa mga existing buildings (This is to avoid further disaster or further damage to our existing buildings),” Ibuyan said.
Every building in Seismic Zone 4 above 50 meters in height must be equipped with at least three certified ERIs under the terms of this legislation unless the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO) grants a waiver.
The bottom, middle, and top of the structure are where the instruments should be placed. The building owner is also responsible for providing maintenance and servicing for the instruments, which is under the Building Official's supervision.
The National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) shall be followed when defining the standards for each type of construction because there are differences between the structures and buildings in the city. Only structures equipped with seismic equipment are eligible for building permits, regardless of the location or site.
For structures situated within the 200-kilometer range of Type A faults it will be determined by the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs) and the NSCP 2010 respectively.
Government structures exceeding 50 meters in height, such as hospitals, schools, and other buildings, shall have three accelerographs.
One accelerograph or one accelerometer connected to a data logger shall be installed in hospitals with a bed capacity of 50 or more and in educational institutions with 20 or more classrooms that are not less than three stories high. City halls and other structures need to have one accelerometer or accelerograph as well.
Buildings owned by private parties that are 50 meters or more in height shall contain three accelerographs, one accelerograph, and two or three accelerometers. One accelerometer or one accelerograph is required for commercial structures with an occupancy of at least 1,000 people or a gross floor space of at least 10,000 square meters.
Only one accelerograph may be installed in any suitable structures outside of the 200-km radius, and it must be on the ground floor or the lowest basement level.
Buildings that are grouped together and have entirely comparable designs and construction must have a minimum of 18 channels and a shared data logger. An authorized structural engineer must choose the instruments' placement.
To execute suitable actions in the event of an earthquake, a Davao City Earthquake Response Task Force would be established. Its responsibility is to regularly produce a consolidated report on its activities to the Vice Mayor's Office and the City Mayor's Office.
The owners of the building that fail to follow the ordinance shall be imposed for the first offense a fine of P3,000; for the second offense a fine of P5,000; and for the third offense a revocation or cancellation of Business Permits upon recommendation of OCBO. RGP