Are We Ready?

April 13,2011

Are We Ready?

We have seen the horrible death and destruction that a combined high-magnitude earthquake and tsunami can cause in a prosperous, well-prepared and disciplined country like Japan. Are we prepared in case a similar disaster hits the Philippines?

The Philippines like Japan, lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, and is very vulnerable to earthquakes, among other natural disasters. In just the past 21 years, the Philippines has been struck by huge temblors ranging in magnitude from 5.1 to 7.9, resulting in great loss of lives and property. These included the Ragay Gulf earthquake of March 17, 1973, magnitude 7; Mindoro earthquake of November 1994, m7.1; Panay earthquake of June 14, 1990, m7.1; Casiguran earthquake of August 2002, m7.3; Moro Gulf earthquake of Aug. 17, 1976, m7.9; and Luzon earthquake of July 16, 1990, m7.9.

The Moro Gulf earthquake spawned a tsunami that devastated more than 700 kilometers of coastline, collapsed hundreds of buildings and houses, left 100,000 people homeless and killed almost 5,000.In scale of death and devastation it is closest to the Big One that recently struck Japan.

Scientists have predicted that a 7.2 earthquake could damage 38 percent of residential buildings,32 percent of buildings between 10 and 30-storey high, 14 percent of buildings between 30 to 60-storey and 30 to 35 percent of all government buildings. It could cause 33,500 deaths, an additional 18,000 deaths from fire, and 114,000 injuries.

About the safest haven from earthquakes in the Philippines is the pristine and paradise island of Palawan. Mahar Lagmay, a professor of the University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Statistics, said that there are hardly any faults under the island.

The faults in the Philippines are many: the Manila Trench, Philppines Trench, West Maharlika Valley Fault System, West Ilocos Fault System, Dummon Fault System in Cagayan, East Zambales Fault, Iba Fault and Lubang Fault.

With the country so vulnerable to earthquakes, what is its state of preparedness for a natural disaster? Scientists and other professional people almost unanimously agree that it is not well-prepared.

First off, we would recommend that all proposals to set up new nuclear power plants to help solve the power problem of the country be put on hold. We have seen in Japan how nuclear power plants set on fire buy earthquakes can make a combined earthquake-tsunami disaster a triple catastrophe that could affect not just thousands, but millions of people.

These are among the recommendation made by officials of government agencies and offices such as the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the Department of Public Works and Highways as well as architects and urban planners such as architect Felino Plalafox,Jr.:

Conduct a structural, hydrologic and geologic audit of all private and public buildings to determine their structural integrity.

Build stronger structures, ensure that they strictly follow the building code and ensure appropriate land use.

Make sure that housing projects are not built on earthquake faultlines, at the foot of mountains where landslides could occur and on coastal areas where there could be storm surges, and worse, tsunamis.

4. Prepare hazard maps for earthquakes, floods, volcanlc eruptions, tsunami and floods.

Learn lessons from countries unprepared for disasters, like Haite,as well as best practices from advanced countries like Japan, the United States, Taiwan and South Korea.

Update building and structural codes.

Create citizens’ awareness of the need for disaster prevention and preparation.(By the way, let’s do away with silly practices such as making schoolchildren put their hands or books over their heads in drills for disasters. Hands and books will not provide much protection. Let’s think of a better way to protect schoolchildren.)

Secure open space such as parks, playgrounds, etc., which can be used in disaster prevention and management.

Get all the local government units, from the provincial government down to the barangay, involved in disaster preparedness.

Enhance the educational program to include a course on disaster prevention and preparedness.

Big earthquakes have been striking with alarming frequency all over the world. We in the Philippines have to be especially prepared and instill discipline in our people.(Source: Philippine Daily inquirer. Thanks to Editor-in-Chief Ma’am Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc and Publisher Sir Isagani Yambot.)