ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The City Engineer’s Office has conducted a new round of inspections to determine the structural integrity of the buildings and other structures within the city's commercial business district.
Engr. Christopher Navarro, head of the City Engineer’s Office, said Wednesday that initial results of the inspection showed the buildings are structurally safe and “do not show structural defects.”
Navarro said the series of inspections were part of the local government's disaster preparedness after a series of earthquakes in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao starting on April 22.
He said one of the buildings they inspected is the 110-year old City Hall building, which was inspected for possible structural vulnerabilities in case of earthquakes and find ways to reduce risk.
Navarro said some corrective measures to enforce preparedness have been recommended for the buildings, including unlocking exit ways during business hours, replacement of glass windows to tempered glass windows, and securing and clearing obstacles at exit ways.
He added that owners of commercial buildings and other structures should conduct dry-runs and prepare an evacuation plan for calamities such as earthquakes or even fires.
The spate of earthquakes that shook Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have put a spotlight on the structural integrity of buildings and structures.
Navarro said that from the commercial center, the inspection will expand to all other areas including the barangays of this city. (PNA)
