Media recall the Big One, discuss PH earthquake preparedness

CHEERS TO media reports on the 7.7 temblor in Myanmar which also  recalled the vulnerability of the Philippines to earthquakes, describing the  active fault line that runs through the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces and the country’s lack of preparedness for earthquake disaster. 

Philippine media reported on the Myanmar quake on  March 28, showing videos of the collapse of buildings in Myanmar and in Bangkok, Thailand.

News organizations all reported the Myanmar earthquake. Reports from ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol, BusinessWorld, GMA Integrated News’ 24 Oras, Inquirer.net, and Philstar.com  included additional information about the threat of the “Big One,” projected at a 7.2 magnitude, and the country’s overall earthquake preparedness. 

The Big One

Mark Salazar’s report for 24 Oras visualized earthquake destruction by using footage of the disintegration of a building in Bangkok as it collapsed to the ground. To demonstrate the projected impact of an intensity 8 earthquake, Salazar stood on a suspended shaking platform, saying, it is the not shaking, but the collapse that kills.  

Raphael Bosano of TV Patrol called attention to the hazard map developed by the Department of Science and Technology, whose findings revealed the types of infrastructure that could collapse during an Intensity 8 earthquake. 

Both reports from 24 Oras and TV Patrol also noted the need for an updated study on the Big One, which was first conducted two decades ago; its previous findings may no longer apply today, as building density has changed over time. 

Earthquake preparedness

The reports from BusinessWorld, Inquirer.net, Philstar.com highlighted the paramount concerns about the safety and security of buildings, pointing to the need for regular safety assessment of existing structures, for building audits of structures constructed in previous periods, among others. These reports also warned against the use of substandard materials that cannot withstand earthquakes. 

Beatriz Marie Cruz of BusinessWorld noted the issues in the field of architecture, urban planning, and design regarding building readiness and the lack of public spaces in case of a major earthquake. Her report noted that audits should assess buildings built  before 2015 before the National Structural Code of the Philippines was updated. 

EJ Macababbad of Philstar.com called for earthquake safety assessment for many non-engineered low to mid-rise buildings to determine their safety and the need for retrofitting  and other measures. 

Baclig report for Inquirer.net reported the lax regulatory environment that allows the sale and use of substandard building materials and other measures included in the Philippine National Standards. 

In a separate Inquirer.net report, Baclig listed the shortcomings of stakeholders in their oversight functions: disclosure of steel type from the developer, on-site inspection of embedded steel enforcement after construction, LGU’s role in building permits, government-led rebar inventory, and mandatory inspection before occupancy permits. This report noted that the Philippines falls short in enforcing building safety, amid the high risks inherent in an earthquake region.

Bosano’s TV report cited above discussed the country’s lack of a safety culture, which prioritizes investment in equipment to deal with emergencies, along with regular safety training and drills  for earthquake preparedness.

These reports attest to preparedness as  key to safety, mitigating the impact of disaster and enabling more survivors. More than just recount recent experience of earthquake in the region, journalists also reviewed the the state of earthquake preparedness, noting training activities even in periods of safety.  

Even without a disaster episode, journalism can help prime the state of readiness with greater public awareness at the national and local levels. Media’s capacity is key to creating the state of preparedness so that society as a whole can deal with disaster emergencies, including the worst.