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The negligence of building authorities in allowing the haphazard construction of buildings with poor planning and weak foundations, making them high-risk structures, directly impacts lives, none more keenly so than when unexpected disasters such as earthquakes strike.
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Japanese experts would know—earthquake preparedness is part of their way of life. Japanese structures are built to withstand powerful earthquakes, and citizens are regularly drilled on disaster preparedness. Nevertheless, thousands still died in the 9.1-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit east Japan in March 2011.
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“[This] … should serve as a wake-up call to all building contractors to make sure that structures are safe for the public,” said Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, chair of the House committee on disaster management. She also called on the Senate to pass its counterpart bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience, meant to strengthen the capacity of national agencies and local governments in responding to disasters.
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