By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
In a
move to secure old public buildings and new government
buildings to be constructed in Laoag City, the Ilocos Norte provincial government
has commissioned technical experts to conduct soil testing of several
government lots here for commercial use.
Soil testing and analysis is
now being mandated by law for structural engineers to design efficient and
accurate designs for a long term viability of a building project to prevent
loss of lives and damage to property.
Engr. Charito Julian,
executive assistant to the governor, said accredited experts based in Baguio
City has started drilling around the Dap-ayan Center, a local food court in
Laoag City starting March 17 to determine the bearing-capacity of the soil
which will be used as basis in designing the foundation of a mixed-use or multi-purpose
commercial building to be erected in the area soon.
Learning from the Visayas
experience when an earthquake hit and destroyed its famous tourism landmarks
and killing several people, Julian said, “We do not wish to be likened [to]
Bohol so we are initiating a pro-active measure for the safety of our people
and advice concerned authorities for the protection of old buildings
particularly of heritage churches.”
As a prime tourist
destination, Ilocos Norte, under the administration of Governor Ma. Imelda R. Marcos,
is gearing for the implementation of its tourism development master plan,
involving the entire province which is expected to be benefitted by the tourism
influx.
As initial steps, tourism
support facilities have to be in place.
This is why the Ilocos Norte
government is clearing some of its prime government lots to accommodate
investors through the public and private partnership.
At present, the Dap-ayan
Center including the old Marcos Hall of Justice at the heart of the city is being
eyed as a proposed site for a multiple-storey building for commercial use.
The Marcos Hall of Justice
will also be relocated near the Ferdinand E. Marcos Stadium where the
provincial government donated a lot for the construction of a new building to be
funded by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
After checking the Dap-ayan
Center and its adjacent Marcos Hall of Justice, Julian said that the group will
proceed to the Provincial Capitol building, then to the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr.
Memorial Hospital and the heritage churches to check their structural
stability.
Earlier this year, a
magnitude 5.7 earthquake rocked the province of Ilocos Norte with a warning of
possible aftershocks. No report of damages was reported but some crack lines
were observed in old buildings and tourism landmarks such as the UNESCO-world
heritage Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos town and the picturesque St.
Augustine Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
It may be recalled that the Provincial
Capitol building also underwent retrofitting operation during the construction
of its east and west wings.
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