BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance mandating the City Engineering Office (CEO), City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to conduct a structural integrity audit of all high rise structures and other high rise buildings particularly those that are located along faultlines or danger zones in the different parts of the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated the measure aims to ensure safe working conditions, protect a brand’s image and reputation, and to gain an accurate picture of the city’s state of buildings and structures in accordance with the National Building Code.
The ordinance ordered the creation of a technical working group (TWG) which shall be composed of the CEO which shall be in responsible for the structural integrity audit of buildings and structures built and owned by the local and national governments, the CBAO which shall be in charge of the structural integrity audit of privately owned buildings and structures and the CDRRMO which shall be responsible in identifying whether or the site of structures are located in faultlines or danger zones.
The ordinance pointed out that the concerned offices will be accountable in the conduct of structural integrity audits and shall ensure the strict implementation of the local legislative measure.
The ordinance stipulated that the TWG shall formulate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of the provisions of the measure within 90 days from its effectivity.
The ordinance added the structural integrity audit is mandatory to all buildings, particularly those that are at least 30 years of age and those that are located along danger areas regardless of age and that the designated officers of the TWG shall issue a notice for the owner of the building to conduct a structural audit.
Upon receipt of the said notice, the ordinance stated that the building owner shall conduct a structural audit of the building within 30 days and mandatorily submit a structural audit report to the officer designated by the TWG who shall scrutinize and enforce strict compliance of all repairs and restorations based on the report.
The ordinance explained that failure to conduct the necessary repairs by the owners of the said structures or buildings may result to the revocation of its certificate of occupancy and continuous refusal of the owners to carry out the prescribed repairs and restorations will subsequently result to the filing of criminal charges against them.
Section 5, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the |State shall maintain peace and order, guarantee the protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by the people of the blessings of democracy.
Further, Section 458(1) (iv) of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government code empowers the local governments to adopt measures to protect the inhabitants of their areas from the harmful effects of man-made or natural disasters and calamities and to provide relief services and assistance for victims of such disasters.
By Dexter A. See
