The Philippine Sports Arena in Pasig City (formerly ULTRA) and the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Vito Cruz, Manila are the next “unsafe” structures in Metro Manila to be repaired by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), an official said Friday.

In an interview, DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo, who is in charge of Luzon operations, said two buildings in the two sports venues had structural defects based on ocular inspections made by the DPWH.

“The preliminary findings of our task force (showed) major cracks … visible on their wall partitions and there were exposed steel bars similar to what our engineers saw in the inspection of the Quirino Grandstand (in Manila),” Momo said.

However, he could not say if the buildings had to demolished or retrofitted, saying they still have to be placed under "detailed evaluation."

Momo explained that their engineers still have to validate their findings by using various instruments including X-ray machines to check the safety of the buildings.

“The validation process may take some time but once it’s finished we will immediately put everything in place as possible to ensure the safety of the people using these buildings. I can't also tell the cost of the repair works,” the official added.

The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DoT), has already closed down the Quirino Granstand upon the recommendation
of the DPWH that is it no longer suitable for public use.

Under the NPDC plan, the grandstand’s reconstruction will start in March and will last until the middle of the year when President Arroyo steps down from office. The repair works will cost the DPWH some P50 million.

As to the Osmeña Bridges 1 and 2 along the South Superhighway, Momo said the repair works have been delayed because the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has not given them permission to start the reconstruction.

“The MMDA has not issued any clearance yet. We submitted already a proposal to them on the traffic rerouting, but it is still subject for approval,” he said.

Since 2007, the DPWH has inspected 1,983 buildings in Metro Manila, where 366 buildings were recommended for detailed evaluation and 60 for urgent detailed evaluation.

Aside from the Philsports Arena, Quirino Grandstand and Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the structures that could not withstand a strong earthquake included the Andres Bonifacio Intergrated School in Mandaluyong City, Araullo High School in Manila, and Navotas Polytechnic College among others, officials said.

The department said 598 bridges out of the 5,030 it inspected needed retrofitting, while 179 more must be replaced.