Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Darylle Sarmiento

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785645664652HOsIUrJbAAAAbS6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A wreath-laying ceremony was held today at the Ruby Tower Memorial, Chinese Cemetery to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the Ruby Tower Disaster. <em>Darylle Sarmiento, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Before dawn 58 years ago today, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the town of Casiguran, Aurora.</div><p>Tremors were felt at Intensity VII in Manila and resulted in the collapse of a six-storey building in Binondo, Manila.</p><p>According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the collapse claimed the lives of 268 individuals and left 260 occupants injured.</p><p>The tragedy later became a turning point in the development of a more reliable government disaster response system.</p><p>“This was a wake-up call for the government’s lack of interest in disaster management,” said Rolly So, chairman of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Fire Rescue, Emergency &amp; Civic Association.</p><p>It prompted the creation of the National Committee on Disaster Operation, whose functions were shortly afterward transferred to the newly created Office of the Civil Defense.</p><p>The National Disaster Control Center later became the National Disaster Coordinating Council, which eventually evolved into the present-day National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).</p><p>“This also set the minimum standards for building construction,” So said. </p><p>The construction of buildings across the country has since been monitored through more reliable standards.</p><p>This included the establishment of the National Building Code in 1972 through Republic Act No. 6541, An Act to Ordain and Institute a National Building Code of the Philippines, which became the National Building Code of the Philippines.</p><p>On the 58th commemoration of the Ruby Tower Tragedy, revisiting the implementation and effectiveness of these existing laws remains a recurring concern.</p><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F3576381759181188%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>This is especially true as experts continue to warn about the impending &quot;The Big One,&quot; a destructive earthquake that could result in massive devastation across Metro Manila.</p><p>Jefferson Lau, Manila 3rd District councilor, said government plans to respond to destructive events like &quot;The BIg One&quot; may be incomplete.</p><p>that there may still be an insufficient government plan of action when it comes to responding to tragedies as destructive as &quot;The Big One.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/9/entire-luzon-must-prepare-for-the-big-one-says-ocd-1713">Entire Luzon must prepare for the &#x27;Big One&#x27;, says OCD</a></div><p>“[P]arang may kakulangan, parang hindi pa rin na-isaayos kung saan ilalagay sa wasto, yung talagang tatamaan,” Lau said. </p><p>(It seems there are gaps, it seems they still haven&#x27;t figured out how to deal with those who will truly be hit.)</p><p>Meanwhile, So and Lau, in their respective messages, said they hope the Ruby Tower Tragedy will continue to serve as a reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness and disaster response.</p><p>“The Ruby Tower is a reminder of the ever-present danger from the destructive earthquake,” So said. </p><p>“Naririnig natin ang &#x27;The Big One&#x27; ay darating. Dapat po tayo, nakahanda, kung ano mga lugar na may warning, huwag na po nating sakupin para tirahan, para ilagay pa diyan ang ating pamilya,” Lau said. </p><p>(We have been told &#x27;The Big One&#x27; is coming. We should be prepared. Those areas that have been identified as unsafe — we should not put our homes and have our families live there.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/3/us-allies-hold-exercise-in-manila-in-preparation-for-the-big-one-1422">US, allies hold exercise in Manila in preparation for ‘The Big One’</a></div>

<p>Fifty-eight years ago today, on August 2, at 4:19 in the morning, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the town of Casiguran, Aurora.</p>

Fifty-eight years ago today, on August 2, at 4:19 in the morning, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the town of Casiguran, Aurora.

Ruby Tower Tragedy: The collapse that reshaped government disaster response

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Ruby Tower Tragedy: The collapse that reshaped government disaster response

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 02, 2026 01:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Ruby Tower Disaster

Disaster preparedness

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

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