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October 14, 2008

Session 2A: Legislative Process for Enacting Seismic Safety Regulations
Many times, the best ideas for earthquake preparedness and seismic security require action by government at the local, state or national level. This panel offers best practices in meeting the needs of the community through a law-making process.

Moderator: Dick McCarthy, Executive Director, California State Seismic Safety Commission
Violeta Somera Seva , Metro Manila, Philippines, Presentation
Councilman Greig Smith, Los Angeles
Andrew Adelman, LADBS, Presentation

Challenges in Formulating and Enforcing Seismic Safety Regulations
at the Local Level in the Philippines

by Atty. Violeta Somera Seva

Rapid urbanization and poverty have created scarcity of land, compelling development in geologically unsafe places in the Philippines. Further, the unsafe, pre-code substandard and old structures pose danger to inhabitants in the event of large earthquakes and other natural hazards.  To address these issues and keep abreast with technological advancements in building design and construction, it has become imperative to update the country’s existing law and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR). Aware that amendments to the law have to pass through the legislative process, seismic safety measures have been integrated into the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the National Building Code and the official referral Code, i.e. the National Structural Code of the Philippines.  However, major challenges in enforcement still exist including the need for adequate manpower, financial support, monitoring and evaluation system, and political will to enforce the rule of law. To resolve these challenges, the institutional capacities of the implementing agencies should be enhanced. By way of example, Makati City, a local government in the Philippines, despite certain limitations in the institutional arrangements for Code implementation, strictly enforces the rules and regulations of the National Building Code and supplements national laws by adopting local ordinances to ensure the seismic safety of its residents.