Manila, Philippines — The Philippine and Japanese governments are set to update a 20-year-old study on the potential impact of a major earthquake in Metro Manila, officials confirmed.
At a recent forum in Quezon City, PHIVOLCS Director Teresita Bacolcol said discussions are already underway with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and PHIVOLCS.
The original 2004 “Earthquake Impact Reduction Study for Metro Manila,” conducted by JICA, PHIVOLCS, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), predicted that a 7.2-magnitude quake could result in as many as 33,500 deaths and 113,600 injuries in the capital region, which at the time had nearly 10 million residents.
“We will revisit the study. It’s already 20 years old, and with the city’s population growth and new developments, an updated assessment is critical,” Bacolcol said.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Metro Manila’s population now stands at over 14 million based on the 2024 census. PHIVOLCS expects the new study to begin next year and be completed within two years.
Source: GMA News
