Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
First of three parts
WHICH structure will remain standing after an extreme earthquake, and which will collapse into the dust? How can a property owner ensure that his high-rise condominium or three-story apartment will remain safe and resilient before and after an earthquake? What are the tell-tale signs that will reveal the strength or weakness of a building?
These are some of the questions that many property owners and the general public have been asking since the recent 7.8 intensity earthquake that rocked Sarangani province in southern Mindanao on June 8, 2026, killing 68 people and damaging more than 30,000 houses and 1,200 school buildings.
The Manila Times interviewed architects and structural engineers to address these quake-related concerns.
First, diagonal cracks on the wall or on the beams and other sudden construction deformities can indicate structural weakness.
Second, a building’s longevity, especially if it has withstood several quakes over several years, can give an owner confidence as to their property’s resilience. However, ultimately, a property’s strength and resistance to an earthquake can not be determined by visual inspection. Professionals have to be called in to accurately assess the extent of damage that a building can withstand in the event of an earthquake with intensity five and above.
Architect Jun Palafox, head of Palafox Associates, argues against complacency, especially based on mere history.
“Building owners told me that their buildings have survived a few earthquakes. I said I’d be concerned. If you take a paper clip and bend it once, it will not break. But if you bend it several times, it will break. The same goes for our steel bars and reinforcements.”
Ruel Ramirez, principal of structural engineering consulting firm RBRA, said that when it comes to assessing a property’s potential damage following an intensity-5 earthquake and above, you cannot depend on guesswork.
Running the necessary structural tests is especially incumbent upon owners of high-rise buildings who should have them conducted immediately after an earthquake.
Jose Miranda, chairman of the Committee on Resilient Architects, said post-damage assessment should not be delayed, especially in high-rise buildings, not only to assess whether they are still habitable, but also to determine mitigation measures if immediate dangers are present. “Certain measures will have to be done not only to protect the occupants but also the nearby properties and the public as well,” Miranda said.
Moving fault lines
In the aftermath of an intensity 5 earthquake, building owners should check their properties for irregular deformities, Miranda said.
“Inspect concrete columns and beams, especially the base of ground-floor columns. Cracks in the middle of beams and near support can be critical. Get professional help — a civil engineer or architect — who can recommend further measures to undertake,” he said.
Aside from earthquakes, skyscrapers can also be vulnerable to strong winds that can topple them if they are not well-designed and engineered, says Anthony Pimentel, structural engineer and president of Pimentel & Associates Engineering Consultants.
To be continued