El Salvador is making significant strides in urban resilience through a nationwide effort to promote seismic retrofitting and building rehabilitation, led by the San Salvador Metropolitan Area Planning Office (OPAMSS). The initiative, supported by public, private, and academic sectors, seeks to strengthen the country’s infrastructure against earthquakes and ensure the safety of the population.
On Thursday, OPAMSS hosted the 5th Meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee (CCC) for the Hokyo Project, a collaborative effort supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project’s objective is to enhance the structural integrity of buildings in the San Salvador Metropolitan Area (AMSS) and beyond by promoting seismic assessment, design, and retrofitting.
“Hokyo is the development of a strategic manual focused on designing seismic capacities and retrofitting at the national level for both public and private infrastructure,” said Luis Rodríguez, executive director of OPAMSS.
The project outlines four key outcomes:
- A manual for seismic assessment of existing buildings.
- A design manual for seismic retrofitting.
- A supervision manual for implementation oversight.
- An OPAMSS action plan for long-term adoption of the Hokyo strategies across AMSS buildings.
The latest committee meeting highlighted major milestones, including the development of technical manuals, retrofitting plans for public schools and key infrastructure, and the launch of training programs for public and private sector professionals.
Additionally, structural studies have been conducted in several public buildings, and a communications plan has been developed to increase awareness and adoption of the project’s findings. The private sector, led by the Salvadoran Chamber of Construction (Casalco), has also joined the initiative, integrating the project’s recommendations into its construction practices.
According to OPAMSS, seismic retrofitting is essential for protecting human lives by ensuring the occupational safety of buildings vulnerable to structural failure during earthquakes. The Hokyo Project represents a long-term investment in risk reduction and sustainable development, setting a precedent for earthquake-prone regions across Central America.