Manila, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has officially launched the Infrastructure Audit (IA) program, the program’s goal is to assess the condition of public buildings or infrastructures under the management of local government units (LGUs), especially in areas with active fault lines.
Under the Infrastructure Audit, priority will be given to hospitals, school buildings, government offices, and emergency response facilities to ensure that the buildings are still safe for the public.
The program does not cover privately-owned buildings that do not provide essential services, residential properties, and buildings owned by the national government.
According to the agency, the audit cycle will vary, depending on the type of infrastructure.
Every 5 years it will inspect government facilities and emergency facilities, every 3 years for essential services such as health, education, markets, and national or world cultural relics such as churches and museums.
Under Republic Act No. 10121, disaster response, LGUs must conduct immediate audits if they experience an earthquake or calamity in such areas.
Meanwhile, the DILG urged LGUs to form their own audit teams to be led by their local leadership, including key LGU officials and a representative from civil society with sufficient knowledge.
DILG Regional Offices were also tasked to establish Local Infrastructure Learning Hubs (LILHubs), in collaboration with regional agencies, engineering associations, academic institutions, and private sector partners.—Ella Corazon, Eurotv News