S.B. NO. 1252: PHILIPPINE BUILDING ACT OF 2019
S.B. NO. 1252: PHILIPPINE BUILDING ACT OF 2019: seeks to provide for all buildings and structures, a framework of minimum standards and requirements, mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and management, to regulate and control their location, siting, planning, design, construction, and maintenance. It also aims to provide the effective regulation of planning, design, construction, occupancy, and maintenance of all public and private buildings and structures. In addition, safeguarding life and protecting people from injury, ensuring the people's health and well-being, protecting property from physical damage and loss, and minimizing disaster risk are the reference standards in attaining building resiliency. This bill also proposes to establish sustainability standards for government-owned buildings, mitigating any negative environmental, economic, and social impacts.
"The National Building Code of the Philippines took effect on February 19, 1977. Ilang dekada na po ang nakakalipas mula nang ito ay naging batas. Mula noon, marami na po tayong mga natutunan tungkol sa building safety dahil sa advancements in science, at pati na rin po sa ating mga naging masasamang experience mula sa sakuna, tulad ng lindol na nangyari sa Mindanao. Panahon na upang ating pag-aralan ang pag-update sa National Building Code na ito."
"Kapansin-pansin po na kahit na mayroong mga safety standards ang current Building Code, gaya ng fire safety and sanitation, hindi po specifically mentioned ang disaster resiliency rito. Napakahalaga ng disaster resiliency rito sa ating bansa dahil maliban sa around twenty typhoons ang pumapasok sa ating bansa taon-taon, our geographic location makes us vulnerable to other disasters, such as earthquakes, landslides, storm surges, and more."
"'Building back better' requires that in the reconstruction of damaged structures, due consideration shall be given to the possibility of the disaster repeating itself."
"Ire-require rin natin na ma-integrate ang disaster resilience measures sa paggawa ng rules and regulations, at sa reference standards para sa pagplano, pag-design, at pag-reconstruct ng mga bagong buildings and structures na itatayo."
"Kailangan din nating mag introduce ng steps upang maiwasan ang corruption na posibleng nagiging sanhi ng non-compliance ng ibang building owners sa safety standards. To do this, we can introduce a 'Peer Review' system, which shall be performed by an accredited and independent verifier who can confirm whether or not the structural design of a proposed or new building or structure complies with the new set of safety standards."
