Marilyn Cahatol

A slum area in Pasay City with the Makati skyline in the background. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Slum area in Pasay City

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176077131543820171121-pasay-slum-skyline-MD-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A slum area in Pasay City with the Makati skyline in the background. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The chances of survival from an earthquake increase if buildings comply with the National Building Code, said an expert Saturday, Oct. 18.</p><p>“Yung mga condo, gusali, building, kung sinunod ang building code, dapat magse-sway lang yan at hindi magco-collapse,” UP Resilience Institute Executive Director Mahar Lagmay told DZMM Teleradyo.</p><p>The Republic Act No. 6541, or the National Building Code, provides a framework of minimum standards and requirements mandated for all buildings and structures, controlling their location, site, design, quality of material, construction, use, occupancy and maintenance.  </p><p>Lagmay explained that buildings that did not comply with the minimum standard set by the law have higher chance of collapsing during an earthquake, which could lead to individuals’ entrapment inside.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/02/16/23/prescription-before-the-big-one-fix-building-code">Prescription before &#x27;The Big One&#x27;: Fix Building Code, remove homes on earthquake faults</a></div><p>He said a building can withstand a strong earthquake — like the projected magnitude 7.2 &quot;Big One&quot; earthquake that may strike Metro Manila should West Valley Fault move — if it was built with no shortcuts or corruption of funds.</p><p>Lagmay noted that the buildings and structures built without consultation with engineers and other professionals are at high risk when the “Big One” comes.</p><p>“Yung mga kanya-kanyang gawa, lalo na sa lugar na ang tawag nila, lego, tinatayo na lang dahil kailangan nilang magtayo, pagkikitaan, pero hindi namo-monitor ng mabuti,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/10/13/possibility-of-big-one-quake-increases-as-2058-approaches-phivolcs-1130">Possibility of &#x27;Big One&#x27; quake in Metro Manila increases as 2058 approaches — Phivolcs</a></div><p>The executive director underscored that 30,000 individuals are expected to die within the first five minutes of the earthquake, as intensities VII and VIII are expected to be felt. </p><p>According to Lagmay, intensity VI was the highest experienced in Metro Manila, which was during the 1990 earthquake.</p><p>“So hindi pa rin natin naranasan yung intensity VII tsaka VIII,” he said.</p><p>Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously said that the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/16/dilg-informal-settlers-most-at-risk-from-the-big-one-earthquake-1408">informal settler families </a>are most at risk during the &quot;Big One&quot; because they reside in buildings constructed with no permits and inspection by the local government units. </p><p>In 2023, architect and urban planner Felino &quot;Jun&quot; Palafox Jr. already <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/02/16/23/prescription-before-the-big-one-fix-building-code">suggested </a>revising the National Building Code to remove houses built on top of faults and require a wider distance between high-rise buildings. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/12/28/19/mindanao-quakes-structures-should-be-safe-if-ph-building-code-truly-followed-says-engineer">Mindanao quakes: Structures should be safe if PH Building Code truly followed, says engineer</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ojgTGveTeU?si=dXu5zuGPe2mUKSWj" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>“Yung mga condo, gusali, building, kung sinunod ang building code, dapat magse-sway lang yan at hindi magco-collapse,” UP Resilience Institute Executive Director Mahar Lagmay told DZMM Teleradyo.</p>

“Yung mga condo, gusali, building, kung sinunod ang building code, dapat magse-sway lang yan at hindi magco-collapse,” UP Resilience Institute Executive Director Mahar Lagmay told DZMM Teleradyo.

Expert: Earthquake survival increases if building code followed

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Expert: Earthquake survival increases if building code followed

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 18, 2025 03:35 PM PHT

Read More:

National Building Code

earthquake

Big One

Mahar Lagmay

UP Resilience Institute

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