Following a series of fatal construction accidents, Senators Raffy Tulfo and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan are pushing for a major overhaul of the Philippines’ nearly five-decade-old building regulations to enforce stricter safety standards.
Senator Tulfo filed Senate Bill No. 2158, or the “New Philippine Building Act,” which seeks to replace Presidential Decree No. 1096—the National Building Code of the Philippines enacted back in 1977.
The legislative move was triggered by the recent May 24 collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga, which trapped over a dozen workers.
“These tragedies emphasize the need to revise and revisit the gaps that the proposed law seeks to address, including stricter and more independent structural design reviews,” Tulfo stated. “More stringent safety regulations in construction sites, higher accountability for contractors, and stronger inspection and enforcement mechanisms even before accidents occur.”
Tulfo also recalled an August 14, 2025, incident along Tomas Morato, Quezon City, where falling debris from a poorly maintained condominium killed one student and injured another. The pending legislation introduces criminal liabilities for negligent owners, contractors, and inspectors, including a minimum six-year prison sentence and heavy fines based on the project’s total cost.
Meanwhile, Senator Pangilinan filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 406 on Monday, May 25, calling for an independent inquiry into the Pampanga building collapse, which has left four people dead and 17 others missing. Initial reports suggest the collapse may have been caused by the unauthorized construction of an additional floor that compromised the structure’s integrity.
Rescue operations officially ended Monday night, shifting to retrieval operations on Tuesday as the exact cause remains under investigation.
“Dahil sa huli, ang mga kawawa nating kababayan ang nagdudusa sa kapabayaang ito,” Pangilinan said, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen safety regulations for both public and private constructions.
The proposed Senate inquiry aims to look into potential negligence, substandard materials, unauthorized modifications, and deficiencies in government oversight and permitting.
Pangilinan expressed sympathy for the victims and urged immediate state assistance and transparency.
“Ang prayoridad natin ay ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan. Utang natin sa mga biktima na ilabas ang katotohanan tungkol sa insidenteng ito at gumawa ng mga batas at polisiya para maiwasan na mangyari ang mga ganitong trahedya sa darating na panahon,” Pangilinan added.