Vargas admits there may be difficulties if disaster strikes
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the 6.3-magnitude quake that struck Mindanao, leaving seven dead and 93 injured, Executive Assistant Jomarie Vargas, cluster head for the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), assured local residents that the Bacolod City government has an “action plan” in the event of a major earthquake.
In a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod over the weekend, Vargas said, under the plan, there are six individuals, including himself, who will take charge when disaster strikes.
However, the city official admitted CDRRMO will have a hard time responding if a major earthquake strikes as the agency could also become disaster victims.
In 2017, Vargas said 30 percent of the buildings in the downtown area would collapse in the event of a strong earthquake. In response, he said notices were issued to the owners of the concerned buildings.
Vargas also revealed, there has yet to be a complete update regarding compliance to the notices.
During a visit to Bacolod City in 2018, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology director and Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum recommended Negros Occidental local government units to prepare following the discovery of new fault lines in Negros.
He explained, buildings should be constructed with hollow blocks that are six-inches thick, and use vertical steel bars with a spaced diameter of 10mm, or 40cm to each other.
Solidum added, owners and local officials should think seriously about earthquake retrofitting./DGB, WDJ