Lawmaker wants safety audit of all public buildings

March 17, 2011
MEXICO — Alarmed by the recent earthquakes that devastated New Zealand and Japan, Pampanga Representative Aurelio D. Gonzales Jr. on Wednesday called for the mandatory structural audit of all public buildings built before 1992.
In an interview with Sun.Star Pampanga, he said he wants the audit to begin with no less than the Batasang Pambansa and Senate Building.
Gonzales said the appropriate government agency should conduct the audit as soon as possible with the assistance of civil engineering professional organizations to determine, which of our public buildings are at risk of being severely damaged should a strong earthquake hits the country.
A civil engineer by profession, Gonzales said a structural audit/inspection is timely and necessary given that the Philippines is in the so called “Pacific Ring of Fire” and therefore is under a continuing threat of a strong earthquakes, which experts claim may hit Metro Manila.
The Pampanga lawmaker met the other night with officers of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (Asep) to brainstorm on how best to protect and safeguard the structural integrity of existing critical structures such as schools and hospitals, which offer the first and last line of defense during calamities.
Gonzales said the group expressed willingness to lend their expertise on the matter.
Gonzales also learned during the meeting that the Batasang Pambansa building, which is home to the House of Representatives and venue for the president’s State of the Nation Address, sits less than one kilometer from the Marikina Fault line and may be vulnerable to severe damage in the event of a strong earthquake.
The Senate building, on the other hand, sits on a reclaimed area and therefore prone to more violent tremors, not to mention the possibility of being hit by a tsunami.
“Without sounding like an alarmist, I hope the House and Senate leadership will take this call seriously and order the Department of Public Works and Highways, with the assistance of Asep and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, to immediately conduct an inspection of all public buildings to determine their structural soundness, starting with our very own Batasang Pambansa and Senate building,” Gonzales said.
He added that after the audit, appropriate retrofitting may be done to correct any structural flaws that may be discovered, in order to strengthen public buildings.
He likewise mentioned that we must learn from the lesson of Japan which, despite the strong earthquakes in the past, suffered little or no major damage to their infrastructure.
Gonzales said the mandatory structural audit is meant to further enhance our disaster preparedness plan especially in identifying treatment and evacuation centers, which need to be operational after disaster strikes.
“Tinuturo natin sa mga tao ang dapat gawin at kung saan pwedeng pumunta pagkatapos ng malakas na lindol. Mas maganda siguro na meron pa silang mapupuntahang mga nakatayong matitibay na struktura sakali mang masira ang kani kanilang mga bahay,” he said.
In the long term, Gonzales also wants a review of the current civil engineering curriculum in order to determine its need to be updated, especially as it relates to the concepts of earthquake design, seismic analysis, and factor of safety, as well as their application in designing stronger structures.
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2011/03/16/lawmaker-wants-safety-audit-all-public-buildings-145217

Although wines are widely available in most Asian countries, especially in Hong Kong which has eliminated import tariff on wines altogether, the availability of fine vintage wines is still very scarce. Most wine merchants offer big names, young vintages and cheaper wines for everyday consumption. Wine lovers and connoisseurs looking for something special often travel to Clark Pampanga Philippines to do their shopping at this Wine Shop in Manila.

At Yats Wine Cellars we believe that a little bit of knowledge in wine goes a long way to developing expectations in the wines we choose to buy or drink. Without expectation, it is difficult to really enjoy wine to its fullest. With this in mind, efforts are made by Yats Wine Cellars to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible for our clients to learn more about wine.

Birthday wine gifts is one of the most popular birthday gifts to give someone living in the Philippines. Fine Vintage wine from Yats Wine Cellars is a sure winner and it does not have to cost a great deal to send someone a bottle in Philippines

To avail of wine catering service of Yats Wine Cellars, just contact this wine supplier in Manila or Angeles Clark Philippines for a meeting to design a theme for the event. The venue for a wine event can be in the privacy of a home, the convenience of an office in Manila for example or in a clubhouse of a subdivision. Wine glasses and accessories necessary for wine service are included in the wine catering service. Moreover, interesting wine notes accompany the wine to help participants enjoy the event even more by learning a little bit about wine while enjoying the party. A wine steward will be present to serve the wine.

There is also an exciting collection of white wine from Burgundy at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Meursault, Chablis, Chassagne Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne and St. Aubin. Red wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhone are also available with a good depth of back vintages too. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com