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LC identifies high risk buildings

By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter

The Laoag City government of Laoag has identified high risks schools, church, private and government buildings around the city to prevent the loss of lives and property during the occurrence of natural calamities, particularly earthquakes.

Acting city engineer Fred Agpaoa said that this is view is line with the Disaster Preparedness Program of the provincial and the city governments.

Based on the inspection conducted by the city engineering office, some of the schools identified were the old and new RTS buildings of the Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades (INCAT), building 3 of the AP Santos Elementary School, H.E. building of San Mateo Elementary School and the Industrial Arts and Multi-Purpose Hall building of Faustino Reyes Elementary School.

The schools’ buildings were found to have dilapidated wooden flooring, roofing, ceiling, sagging of concrete flooring slab/beam, visible cracks on walls and dilapidated termite- infested roofing.

As a result, the inspection team recommended the removal and replacement of the dilapidated materials and treat all wooden structures with anti-termite compound.

It recommended the removal and replacement of concrete floor slabs; checking of steel reinforcement on walls; and retrofitting the buildings by constructing additional beams and columns.

The team also found the St. William Cathedral with no structural framing system and failure to meet the standard design required by the National Structural Code of the Philippines.

Agpaoa recommended that the building needs retrofitting wherein standard design analysis/requirement must be followed and strictly implemented.

Agpaoa also reported the Rebollido Building located at Barangay 13 General Segundo Ave. as condemned with the recommendation for removal/demolition of the whole building.

He also included the YMCA building located at Barangay 7-A P. Lazaro St. as condemned due to its being a fire hazard with its dilapidated wooden structures particularly walls, roofing, roof framing, ceiling and visible cracks on masonry walls.

Agpaoa reported the matter to Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas for her information.

He said that the owners of the said buildings were also informed and need further actions on the recommendations as stated.

Councilor Edison Bonoan, chairperson of the committee on infrastructure, in his individual report also reported the findings of the team during a regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.


The inspection team included acting building official Engr. Roy A. Tomas and Engineer II Rizal F. Santos as members. 

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