davao quake

• Red and yellow tags issued to major buildings after city-wide inspections

THE Office of the City Building Official (OCBO) has issued Red Tag and Yellow Tag notices to several major establishments in the wake of the recent earthquakes.

Architect Kashayar Toghyani, officer-in-charge of the OCBO, delivered the findings during a press briefing at the City Hall conference room on Monday afternoon, Oct. 13.

“Following the rapid visual inspection conducted by the OCBO, together with Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Davao City Chapter, the OCBO has issued red tag and yellow tag notices to several establishments in the city,” he said.

Red Tag (Occupancy Prohibited)

Inspection results showed that the structure has sustained severe damage and is considered dangerous. A comprehensive structural assessment is now required. Entry or use of the premises is prohibited until all necessary repairs have been completed and cleared by the OCBO.

Establishments with Red Tag Notices:

1. Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (Administrative Building and School Building)
2. The Velvet Suites and Hotel / Oroderm City
3. Magallanes Residences (Toledo-Building 3)
4. Teleperformance Davao (Part of SM Annex Building)

Yellow Tag (Restricted Use)

Inspection results revealed moderate structural or non-structural damage requiring repairs before full re-occupancy. Certain areas may remain accessible under controlled conditions, subject to the approval of the OCBO.

Establishments with Yellow Tag Notices:

1. Felcris Centrale (Buildings A, B, and C)
   2.Gaisano Mall of Davao – Bajada (Parking Building)
2. Vivaldi Residences Davao
3. Mesatierra Garden Residences

Toghyani further said that there are still 40 to 50 buildings on their list for inspections.

The OCBO emphasized that all concerned establishments must strictly comply with these conditions and safety requirements before allowing any form of re-occupancy.

“These measures are implemented to ensure the safety and protection of residents, tenants, and the general public,” Toghyani said.

“Inspections with other establishments with reported visible cracks are still ongoing and are being jointly conducted by OCBO and the PICE,” he added.

“Red tag or yellow tag is basically an engineering system that we have made here in the city so that when earthquakes happen, we will know which buildings to inspect first,” he explained, adding that PICE has been designated as a city’s consultant through an executive order issued by City Hall.

“What does it mean if you are Red Tag? We prohibit the occupancy, which means it may be that your structure still stands, did not collapse or tilt, but there are hazards in that area,” he said.

“For example, there is a damage to the fire exit, not all building was damaged… so their use should be restricted because the fire exit is already lacking every time there will be an emergency,” he added.

For the yellow tag, the specific damage should be repaired before people are allowed to return.

“But it doesn’t mean you are Red Tag or Yellow Tag, you will demolish the building, that’s not that,” he said, adding that the owner should follow the recommendations to repair or reinforce the damage to make it safer for the tenants and occupants.

The owner’s engineers must then submit a checklist and repair methodologies to secure a permit as a precondition for reopening. Once the city accepts their repair methodology, “that’s the time that they should proceed to fix the structure and finally obtain a Green Tag.”

The National Building Code imposes a P20,000 penalty or imprisonment of not more than two years to building owners who will deny entry of city officials attempting to conduct a structural integrity inspection.

“I would like to remind those establishments who had received red and yellow tags, please comply with those notices and follow so that there will be no accident,” he further said.

He added that The Velvet Suites and Hotel still don’t have an occupancy permit despite multiple applications. He also alleged that the management defied the order by allowing people in and removing the yellow tape installed by the city’s engineers.

“We have already imposed sanctions. We have given them warnings, so right now we are also talking to other regulatory offices and the Business Bureau and our city legal. We will see what other options are available so that we can make them comply with the law, so that we can make sure that everybody is safe,” he added.