Earthquakes: Hazardous To Your Health!

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling for a review (about darned time!) of the Building Code of the Philippines in response to the recent series of strong earthquakes that hit Japan, Haiti, Chile and New Zealand.  The trumpet call was sounded in response to the growing public concern on the structural integrity of houses and buildings in the country.  DENR Secretary Ramon Paje directed the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to work for the integration of the Engineering Geological and Geohazard Assessment Report (EGGAR)* into the Environmental Impact Statement System required under Presidential Decree 1586.

*DENR Administrative Order 2000-28 sets down the implementing guidelines on engineering geological and geohazard assessment as additional requirement for ECC applications covering subdivisions, housing and other land development and infrastructure projects.  

Well now, let's all hope and pray that they actually get any work done, and quickly.  Seems like another case of 'too little, too late,' but then again, it's better late than never!

 
Let's all live underwater,

Jon