ENSURING SAFETY OF EDIFICES: City Engr. to inspect 47 buildings in Naga

NAGA CITY --- The City Engineer’s Office (CEO) here will require owners of 47 existing buildings around the city to have their properties inspected for structural stability by civil engineers or structural engineers starting January next year as part of the annual inspection and precautionary measure against the possibility of a magnitude 6.9 earthquake similar to what happened in Davao del Sur recently.

Naga acting city engineer Alexander Caning told Bicol Mail that the directive to building owners is intended to ensure the safety of the edifices and not to create undue panic.

Under the National Building Code Development Office (NBCDO) Memorandum Circular No. 03, Series 2011, a building official is mandated to conduct annual inspection to all types of buildings within its jurisdiction. Annual Inspection is conducted to ensure structural stability of the building and that all architectural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing/sanitary and safety standards are complied.

Caning said that buildings covered by the directive include those two-storey and above, which are 10 years old and above, and one-storey structures with at least 1000 cubic meters, 10 years old and above.

Under the NBC, the cost of building inspection shall be shouldered by the owners and they are required to submit to the city building official the result of the inspection signed by a licensed civil or structural engineer.

Caning said that in 2018 some 30 buildings in the city, private and publicly owned, were also required to be subjected to annual inspection. These buildings consist of old churches and structures in the city.

For 2020, some of the buildings which are required to be inspected are the: Master Square; Princeton; Cabral Bicolandia Supermart; Bodega Glassware; Rodson Hotel; University of Nueva Caceres, all located in J. Hernandez Avenue.

Landbank; Socorro Abella; Fiesta Hotel; Electromart; Boning’s Trading; Shoppers Mall; Bichara & Sons; and Multi Brand Marketing, all in General Luna Street.

Bicol Diamond Property Holding; Bescom Trading; Iglesia Ni Kristo; Sunny View Hotel; Jmes Marketing; Sampaguita Hotel, all in Panganiban Drive.

The rest are: E-Mall; Manuel Roco; San Francisco Church; Holy Rosary Major and Minor Seminaries; moher Seton Hospital; Naga Parochial School; ALDP Building; Queen Bank; Aristocrat Hotel; Crown Hotel; Immaculate Concepcion Church; Naga Cathedral; Zantual Building; Graceland; Moraville; Alantic Bakery; Hong Enterprises; and Manta Building.