Most houses in the Philippines are unlikely to withstand strong earthquakes due to the use of substandard materials and the lack of professional supervision during construction, according to Phivolcs expert Rhommel Grutas.
He said many homeowners rely on laborers instead of licensed engineers or architects, resulting in unsafe structures that fail to follow building codes, such as the use of undersized hollow blocks and insufficient steel reinforcements.
Grutas cited recent quakes in Cebu, Bohol, and Luzon, where thousands of homes collapsed or sustained major damage because of poor construction practices.
He urged stricter enforcement of the Building Code and proper design planning, warning that budget-driven shortcuts could prove deadly during “the Big One.”
Civil engineering experts also advised homeowners to have their properties inspected for hidden damage and to follow safety protocols during strong quakes.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 10, 2025
