MANILA (October 11) – Senators Francis Escudero and Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday urged stricter enforcement of building safety standards and a quick government response following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Davao Oriental and nearby provinces.
Escudero expressed concern and sympathy for affected families, stressing the need to secure evacuees, treat the injured, and inspect infrastructure for damage. He renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 277, which seeks to strengthen the National Building Code through mandatory structural inspections, accountability measures, and higher penalties for safety violations.
He emphasized that existing earthquake-resilience guidelines are often treated as mere referrals rather than enforceable rules. “We need enforceable standards and regular checks,” he said, adding, “We owe it to our people to build not just with concrete, but with conscience.”
Gatchalian, for his part, urged the NDRRMC, local disaster councils, and first responders to act swiftly in rescue and relief operations and conduct immediate safety audits of schools, hospitals, and densely populated areas. He also called for psychosocial support for children, who are often the most vulnerable during disasters.
