Rapid visual screening of major government hospital buildings in Metro Manila

• Main Authors: Baluyut, Katrina S., Ramos, Art Jester C., Suarez, Maria Celina N.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Structural engineering > Philippines > Manila Metropolitan Area; Buildings > Design and construction > Standards; Earthquake engineering > Philippines > Manila Metropolitan Area; Civil Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/9087
• Institution: De La Salle University

The Philippines is an earthquake prone country. And according to Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS), a predicted earthquake with an estimated magnitude of seven (7.0) is to occur within this century. Due to the likelihood of an earthquake, MMEIRS as well as other Local Government Units (LGU) are implementing a Risk Disaster Management Plan. And one of its tasks is to improve the structures in Metropolitan Manila to be earthquake resistant. Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) was the tool used in the study in assessing the seismic vulnerability of public/government hospitals. RVS is a quick and inexpensive way of screening structures. From the study, only twenty-one percent of the hospital buildings passed the RVS with a cut-off score of two. The hospital structures, which passed have common factors of having a soil type A (Hard Rock) and that it was built after the adoption of the 2001 National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP). The hospital structures, which failed have common factors of having soil types D and E (Stiff and Soft Soil Type) and that were built before the adoption of the 1992 code. The hospital buildings which did not make the cut-off score need a more detailed inspection. And also hospitals which have a high bed capacity and have a low score can be prioritized for a more detailed inspection. This is to ensure that the hospital structures in Metropolitan Manila are safe before, during and after a seismic event, thus will be able to serve the needs of the people.