Malacanang assured that government agencies are preparing for a 7.2 magnitude earthquake caused by movement of the West Valley Fault that may cause large damage to the National Capital Region and nearby areas.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said that there are various projects that the government is doing to prepare for strong earthquakes.

“We have earthquake drills, fire drills, and we give out Go Bags,” Castro said.

This concern emerged after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck in Myanmar and Thailand last Fridat where at least 1,000 deaths were reported.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Teresito Bacolcol said that a death toll of over 50,000 can be expected if a quake of that magnitude strikes.

“The Big One in NCR, the expected ground shaking in Metro Manila is Intensity 8, and also, we expect residential buildings, around 12 percent to 13 percent would sustain heavy damage,” Bacolcol said.

"Some older buildings, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructures in Metro Manila may not be earthquake-resistant, and retrofitting and reinforcing buildings are important," Bacolcol added.

In the last century, three big quakes shook Metro Manila. The first with an Intensity of 6-7, in August 20 1937, occured in the evening. On Aug 2, 1968, an Intensity VII quake with the epicenter in Casiguran struck Manila and on July 16, 1990, a magnitude 7.8 tremblor with the epicenter at Nueva Ecija, shook the metropolis.

Malacanang also demanded that building officers in local government units inspect buildings and houses and to be stricter in giving building permits.

“We Filipinos need to help each other to disseminate information on how to prepare for strong earthquakes,” Castro added. Yzabela Velez-White/DMS