SEN. Bong Go renewed his call for the passage of the proposed New Building Code, stressing the need to modernize the country’s nearly five-decade-old construction standards for public safety.
This comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of strengthening construction standards and building disaster-resilient infrastructure nationwide in his fifth State of the Nation Address.
Go said the existing National Building Code, which was last amended in 1977, must be updated to reflect modern engineering practices, advances in construction technology and the growing challenges posed by climate change and natural calamities.
”We must ensure that every home, school, hospital, office and public building is safe and resilient, especially during disasters,” Go said.
Go noted that the proposed New Building Code he filed seeks to update the country’s construction standards by strengthening regulations governing the planning, design, construction, occupancy, maintenance, repair and renovation of buildings and other structures.
Under the measure, building safety is treated as a continuing responsibility that extends beyond construction. Go said structures must undergo regular inspections and proper maintenance to ensure they remain safe throughout their lifespan.
”Safety does not end when a building is built. It must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure that it remains strong and safe,” he said.
The senator called for stricter enforcement of laws against the use of substandard construction materials, shortcuts in building practices and the approval of structures that fail to comply with safety requirements.
”When life is at stake, there is no room for fraud, mismanagement or neglect of inspection,” Go said.
He urged the assessment of older structures — including schools, hospitals, public markets, government offices and residential buildings — particularly those located in high-risk areas, to determine whether repairs or retrofitting are necessary.
