DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 1 Nov) – Mayor Sara Duterte will meet the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on Monday to discuss plans on strengthening the building requirements after a series of powerful earthquakes damaged infrastructures in Mindanao.

MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

Duterte said in an interview that members of the council will consider proposing stricter measures that will set standards on new buildings to make them withstand magnitude 7 and stronger earthquakes.

Under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the CDRRMC is chaired by the mayor.

Members include the heads of City Planning and Development Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Health Office, City Agriculture Office, Gender and Development Office, City Engineering Office, City Veterinary Office, City Budget Office, the division head/schools superintendent, highest ranking military and police officials, city fire marshal, president of the Association of Barangay Captains, Philippine National Red Cross, four representatives from accredited civil society organizations, and one private sector representative.

The mayor said there is also need to pass the proposed ordinance that seeks to regulate the height of the buildings and structures in the city.

Based on the draft ordinance, the proposed measure indicates that the applicable zones for the premium height limit are the major commercial zones, high-density residential zone, and institutional zone.

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It will impose a higher regular building limit of 90 meters at the maximum for structures that will be built within the 500-meter radius from the boundary of railway station or intermodal transit station but 110 meters (about 33 stories) for structures in zones within identified major commercial zones, high-density residential zone, and institutional zone.

The draft also says that the City Government may allow construction of a tower building that will serve as the city’s “tallest landmark postcard image” in Maa and Matina (zone 3) Bangkal (zone 9), and City Hall Complex to Bucana area (zone 10) with a height higher than the premium height limitation.

But it should not exceed what the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has set as a limitations such as 72 to 162 meters (about 21 to 49 stories) for zone 3, 162 meters for zone 9, and 145 meters (about 44 stories) for zone 10.

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To be awarded with the privilege of building the tallest landmark in the city, the proposed law provides that the project’s design is unique and should bear semblance to or representation of the city’s culture and heritage; devote at least 50 percent of tis ground floor area accessible to the public and its summit must also be made accessible by the public for viewing purposes either for free or for a fee.

It added the proposed law will serve as guide, control, and regulate future growth and development of the city; provide an orderly pattern of development that is both transit-oriented and transit responsive; conform to flight safety regulations and improve disaster-resilience; preserve view of cultural and heritage sites; promote and improve urban livability index such as better air quality, sufficient access to sunlight, open and green spaces and urban connectivity and mobility efforts; and provide incentives to the private sector in improving the build environment.

Some of the existing tallest buildings in the city are the 33-story mixed-use condominium Aeon Tower, 37-story Vivaldi Residences, and twin-tower Avida (19-story tower 1 and 23-story tower 2).

“We really need that ordinance not just for disasters but also for urban planning,” Duterte said. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)