Manila: A House of Representatives leader on Tuesday called for the replacement of the country’s decades-old National Building Code following the collapse of a concrete pillar at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-7) construction site along West Avenue in Quezon City.
According to Philippine News Agency, Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano, who chairs the Committee on Metro Manila Development, emphasized the necessity for a new National Construction Code with tighter enforcement and updated safety provisions. Valeriano described the recent incident as a wake-up call for Congress to replace the existing building code, emphasizing the importance of strict administrative enforcement measures and mechanisms to ensure successful prosecution of violators.
The incident occurred on April 13, involving the collapse of a bored pile meant to support the elevated turnaround section of the MRT-7. While no injuries were reported, nearby utility cables were affected. Valeriano highlighted the need for the new code to include provisions on green and biophilic architecture, disaster adaptation, containment of airborne diseases, and climate-resilient technologies. He stressed that despite repeated violations, administrative and criminal penalties are rarely implemented, allowing violators to evade prosecution.
In a related development, Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera filed House Resolution No. 2262, calling for a congressional inquiry into the collapse. Herrera argued that the inquiry is essential to determine the cause of the structural failure, identify any oversight lapses, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in future infrastructure projects. She underscored the urgent need to revisit and strengthen regulations governing construction safety, structural audits, third-party assessments, and community hazard notifications near ongoing public works.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation assured that the incident would not compromise the structural integrity of the entire MRT-7 line.
