DOST calls for strengthening building preparedness in anticipation of earthquakes

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Tuesday, Dec. 12, said there is a need to continue strengthening houses and buildings constructed years ago to lessen the number of potential casualties from earthquake occurrences.

“We need to strengthen our building preparedness, and that is where the solution would lie on the potential number of casualty – kailangang patibayin para kumonti pa ang maapektuhan (we need to strengthen them to lessen the number of the people to be possibly affected),” DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said.

Solidum also noted that there is a need for a continuous information campaign “as youth also need to know.”

Meanwhile, Solidum said the number of earthquakes that jolted the country in 2023 had exceeded the number of earthquakes experienced due to the aftershocks.

“If you count the aftershocks, yes. But there are sometimes years where we have major earthquake events, and major earthquake events would trigger a lot of aftershocks,” said Solidum.

“So by counting, talagang sosobra iyan. Kasi for example, sa magnitude 7.4 earthquake event ay mahigit tatlonlibo na iyon, baka umabot pa iyon sa 4,000 (So by counting, it will really exceed. Because, for example, for the magnitude 7.4 earthquake event, there were more than 3,000, it may reach 4,000,” he added.

Moreover, Solidum said what matters is the effect of the earthquake, emphasizing the tremors in Mindanao that did not leave “significant casualties.”

“But the important thing though is, the consequence of the events. And if you look at past events, these events in Mindanao have not really caused significant casualty,” Solidum noted.