New Philippine Building Act Aims for Climate-Resilient Structures, Preserves Local Government Powers

Manila — Legislation aimed at modernizing the Philippines’ 46-year-old Building Code seeks to make the country’s structures more resilient to natural calamities and disasters.

According to Philippines News Agency, House Bill 8500, also known as the proposed New Philippine Building Act, will maintain the authority of local government units to issue building-related regulations in their jurisdictions, as long as these align with the new proposed law.

Villafuerte stated the urgency of updating building regulations in light of increasing natural disasters and the Philippines’ location along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire.’ “Climate change and the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters that hit the country make it necessary for us lawmakers to update our building and construction laws. Improvements in building regulations and standards are necessary to help us respond to our vulnerabilities to such disasters as earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruptions,” he said.

The proposed legislation aims to establish the Office of the National Building Officer (NBO), responsible for ensuring that buildings and structures are built to withstand a range of natural hazards, including earthquakes, storms, floods, fires, and landslides. Villafuerte outlined several requirements of the new building code, such as designing buildings to minimize their environmental impact through efficient energy, water, and waste management. Additionally, the use of sustainable materials and landscaping that considers a site’s biodiversity and natural features is emphasized.

Another key feature of the proposed legislation is the stipulation for the safe use of building materials to protect occupants’ health. According to Villafuerte, these materials should not adversely affect the environment, including air, water, and soil, and should meet a set of criteria like strength, fire resistivity, moisture resistance, durability, and sustainability.

The bill also empowers the NBO to recommend funding for local government units and communities that endorse disaster risk reduction and management activities for buildings and structures. The bill garnered overwhelming support from lawmakers; in August, a total of 266 voted in favor of HB 8500, with none against or abstaining.