LUBAO Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab yesterday (Friday) directed disaster management officials to inspect government-owned structures for any possible damage brought by a strong earthquake that struck Luzon late Thursday evening.
Mayor Cayabyab tasked the officials and members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to conduct inspection and structural assessment on state-owned buildings the morning after the earthquake.
Seismologists measured the jolt at 5.3-magnitude with an epicenter a few kilometers off the coast of San Marcelino, Zambales. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a depth of 93 kilometers.
The inspection team was led by the Municipal Engineering Office headed by Engr. Francisco Waje, LDRRMO Edgar Dabu, and Fire Senior Inspector Edwin Dela Fuente of the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Cayabyab said the inspection was meant to ensure that the integrity of the structures was not adversely affected by the earthquake that was felt up to Laguna.
“We cannot leave the safety of the public to chance. If we find any significant damage in any of the properties this early, we can make precautions to avoid putting the lives and limbs of our kabalen in danger,” Cayabyab said.
The inspection team assessed the Lubao municipal hall, Sta. Cruz Public Market, Escolastica Romero District Hospital, Lubao municipal gym and the town’s trading post at Barangay Sto. Tomas.
As of this posting, no significant damage on inspected properties was reported but thorough structural assessment will continue, the mayor said.
The MDRRMC here and Philippine National Police regularly holds earthquake and emergency response drills to increase the readiness of the public in case the feared “Big One” happens.
Recently the town hall participated in the nationwide quake drill dubbed “Oplan Pagyanig” with a simulation of emergency evacuation and response during and after an earthquake.
Mayor Cayabyab has als instructed the local disaster management council to raise preparedness of the public should there be emergencies like fire, flood, earthquake and the like. –Albert B. Lacanlale