By Junex Doronio
CONCERNED OF PUBLIC SAFETY following the recent 7.2 temblor in Mindanao, House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo and four other lawmakers jointly filed a resolution seeking a congressional investigation into the standards used for the construction of public structures.
The filing of House Resolution 1476 on Tuesday, November 21, was made after Tulfo visited areas in Mindanao that were struck by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on November 17 as directed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
“According to police officers and rescue workers in the affected provinces, the injuries and casualties following the earthquake were due to falling debris and structures, and collapsed concrete and steel works, among other causes,” HR 1476 read.
Other authors of the resolution were ACT-CIS party-list Representatives Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo.
“Upon inspection of infrastructure facilities after the quake, sustainable damages were also found in several roads, bridges, ports, and other public works, including a partially submerged fish port in the Municipality of Glan, Sarangani,” the resolution further said.
Cong. Erwin Tulfo and his co-authors pointed out the urgent need to ensure that the repair, replacement, or development of damaged public infrastructure and works must be completed timely but not at the risk of substandard quality.
They noted that the damage and its corresponding fatal repercussions to the public “give rise to questions on the standard of public infrastructure in the country and the regulation of the same by relevant government agencies.”
(ai/mnm)
