A National Scandal

By: Chita de la Cruz-Heap

In view of the extensive damage caused to Japan’s infrastructure by the recent earthquake and the tsunami which followed, it might serve us well to consider how our town of Kalibo might withstand an event of similar magnitude.

Japan being the earthquake capital of the world, its geographical location is reflected in its significant coastal defences and in its stringent code of practice for building construction. Most of the tall buildings are specifically designed to withstand earthquakes of a significant magnitude, with many including compensators to counter the effects of vibration.

All materials used in construction must comply with a minimum standard, and their composition and structural strength is closely monitored. Despite these stringent precautions, the damage sustained in the recent disaster was significant. What degree of damage might we therefore expect to our own town were such a massive earthquake to occur locally?

I recently had cause to consider such an eventuality when I purchased hollow blocks from a local supplier. The blocks were delivered wet, but I was horrified some two weeks later when the blocks simply fell apart and disintegrated when I tried to pick them up.

The legal gravel to cement ratio for hollow blocks is 5 to 1. I suspect that the gravel to cement ratio in this instance was in excess of 20 to 1, which represents a fourth of the legal requirement. It occurred to me at the time that the manufacturer had perhaps used hugas bigas to make the blocks instead of cement in order to minimize costs and maximize profit.

We should all be mindful that to supply sub-standard blocks is not only bad practice but it also constitutes a criminal offence. To supply such defective blocks is not so different from firing a loaded gun into a crowded market place, not caring where the bullets might go or who they might hit. In such an instance we would not hesitate to disarm the culprit immediately, so why not so with the supplier of the sub-standard blocks, whose selfish and thoughtless neglect in ensuring that the minimum standard is met will most probably result in the deaths of untold numbers of people at some point in the future?

“But this is the Filipino way” I hear you say, and this is my point precisely. This is what needs to change. What appals me most is that to my knowledge, the Department of Trade and Industry has not yet taken steps to regulate the quality of such blocks despite the urgent need, and despite their legal requirement to do so.

To date it has not devised a standard test to determine the strength of such blocks, and nor has it taken steps to ensure that only blocks conforming to the minimum standard are used for construction purposes.

Their failure to take action on an issue so critical to the safety and welfare of our people I consider not only to be a gross dereliction of duty, but that their lack of action also exposes those within the department open to charges of criminal negligence.

To devise atesting procedure which can be carried out on site by a contractor without the need for sophisticated testing equipment, and which can be replicated by retailer and customer alike is a relatively simple matter. This has not so far been done.

In a recent survey of local suppliers it became all too painfully apparent that not only did none of their blocks conform to the minimum legal requirement, but also that many were not even aware there is a minimum legal requirement. Fewer still were aware of what this requirement is.

The provision of sub-standard building materials and the failure to monitor their quality are not a problem confined to Kalibo. The same bad practice can be found throughout the Philippines. In the case of sub-standard hollow blocks it is human lives which are being put at risk, and a human life can never be replaced. This is nothing short of a national scandal.

It is imperative that an information program should be set up without delay to inform manufacturers and suppliers of their statuary obligation, to stipulate the minimum legal requirement, and to explain the consequences of failing to comply.

I would further like to suggest that all manufacturers of hollow blocks should be required to obtain a permit to make such blocks pending the successful testing of their product, and that they be subjected to further checks on a regular basis.

Those failing to comply with the minimum legal standard should be subjected to prosecution to set an example to others with a heavy fine imposed for a first offence, and the closure of their business for any subsequent offence.

he DTI should get its act together and not only devise a simple method for ascertaining the strength of these blocks, but also take steps to implement an effective testing procedure. Their reticence to fulfil their legal obligation to ensure the safety of the general public reflects upon us all, and brings into sharp focus the lack of awareness and concern that has come to typify our society.

If we wish to become a player on the world stage and evolve as a nation then we need to pay heed to our infrastructure. Every building made from sub-standard blocks is a potential death trap and is a tragedy waiting to happen. Tomorrow will be too late- we need to act now. Complacency kills, and it is only after the event that we become wise, by which time it is too late.

We should be mindful of the tragedy recently visited upon Japan. For were an earthquake of such magnitude to occur locally, or were a tsunami to impact upon the shores of Kalibo, I fear that there would not be a single building left standing./TE