Iloilo: The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) is proposing a walk-the-fault activity at the West Panay Fault to come up with appropriate preparations for possible earthquakes. PDRRM Office head Cornelio Salinas noted that the West Panay Fault is a magnitude 8-triggering fault line, historically shown by the famous Lady Caycay that struck Panay in 1948.

According to Philippines News Agency, the PDRRMC has endorsed a resolution to the provincial board for the walk-the-fault initiative, which was referred to the regional DRRM council. "All (concerned) government agencies will walk-the-fault line from Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo and Antique to determine the extent of the West Panay Fault," Salinas stated in a media interview. He highlighted the recent magnitude 7.8 quake in Mindanao, which caused roads to fold and collapse, stressing that it is recommended for projects, both horizontal and vertical, not to be implemented along the fault line.

Salinas also identified another triggering fault, the Negros Trench, facing Iloilo's first district. In addition to the walk-the-fault activity, he recommended conducting an inventory of the threshold of buildings to determine their capacity. He emphasized that officials of local government units should assess the threshold of all buildings, aiming for zero casualties as targeted by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

He further expressed the importance of building officials being proactive in enforcing the National Building Code. Salinas stated, "This should be a whole of society approach. There's no instrument that can detect earthquakes. But the level of preparation starts with the individual engineer looking at the structure, looking at the construction sites."

Salinas added that the provincial government will participate in the national simultaneous earthquake drill on June 18 to ensure the public is informed and develops muscle memory on what to do in case of an earthquake.