As part of the President’s directive to strengthen disaster preparedness, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has launched the Infrastructure Audit (IA) Program. This initiative aims to assess LGU- owned critical infrastructure nationwide, with a focus on densely populated areas located along active fault lines.

The program aims to standardize assessment of local public infrastructure using the harmonized IA tool developed with national and local government agencies and stakeholders.

Given the broad scope of the audit, priority will be given to LGU-owned and key public buildings that deliver essential services such as hospitals, school buildings, government offices and emergency response facilities. The audit will exclude privately-owned buildings not providing essential services, residential properties, and buildings owned by the national government.

Audit findings will be compiled into an integrated database managed by the DILG, serving as a resource for risk assessment, planning, and policy development at both national and local levels.

LGUs are urged to establish audit teams chaired by their local chief executives and composed of key local functionaries and a civil society representative with engineering expertise. DILG Regional Offices are likewise directed to establish Local Infrastructure Learning Hubs (LILHubs) to support LGU audit teams, involving regional agencies, engineering associations, academic institutions, and private sector partners.

Audit cycles will vary by infrastructure type: every 5 years for government and emergency facilities, every 3 years for essential services (e.g., health, education, markets), and annually for national or world cultural relics (churches and museums). In the wake of a major earthquake, LGUs must conduct immediate damage assessments in accordance with Republic Act No. 10121 on disaster response.

The DILG, through its Project Development Services and Regional Offices, will monitor implementation, provide technical assistance, and maintain a web-based system to track audit data and share information on infrastructure resilience.

As the Vice Chairperson for Disaster Preparedness under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the DILG remains committed to fortifying our communities against disasters and protecting the welfare and safety of the general public.

Original Article At: https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-launches-infra-audit-program-to-boost-earthquake-resilience/NC-2025-1141