By Benjamin Pulta/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Work resumed at the Supreme Court (SC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, after the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that shook parts of Luzon including Metro Manila last Monday.
The SC and DOJ buildings in Padre Faura St. in Manila were declared structurally sound after inspection on Tuesday.
“The SC engineering team has completed an initial inspection of all the buildings in the SC compound. No major and structural damage had been found on any of the buildings,” the SC Public Information Office said, adding that the High Court will coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways for a more thorough structural assessment of all its buildings.
Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez inspected the SC buildings and found damaged ceilings in some rooms.
The DOJ compound, on the other hand, was also declared safe after inspection.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said there was no damage to the structures of the buildings or to any equipment of the department.
He said cracks were found only in the exterior plastering of the new buildings, which “may easily be patched and are not a cause for concern.”
The present site of the SC, Court of Appeals, and the DOJ is on the land originally owned by the University of the Philippines – Manila Campus.
The SC has begun plans to eventually transfer to a new, modern complex, which will rise on a 2.1-hectare site in the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The DOJ, on the other hand, is among the handful of government agencies initially eyed for transfer to New Clark City outside the National Capital Region as part of plans to decongest Metro Manila and make the national government more resilient in the event of a natural disaster.
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