CO-FOUNDER
Jejomar A. Cabral
RCEMEngAssociate Member, ASEP
University of Santo Tomas · De La Salle University
Structural analysis, design, and detailing of concrete and steel buildings, with a focus on mid- and high-rise structures.
ASCE 41 evaluation & structural inspection · Metro Manila
Know what your building needs before you spend on it.
We’re Jejomar and Virgilio, structural engineers in Metro Manila. Our main work is structural inspection and ASCE 41 seismic evaluation of existing buildings, and we explain what we find in plain language.
We can help you evaluate how it may perform in an earthquake, inspect cracks and damage, confirm your building is compliant, check your building before adding a floor, review your contractor’s work, and design your next building.
Metro Manila & Greater Metro Manila
Who we help
- Homeowners
- Building owners
- Condominium corporations
- Property managers
- Schools
- Churches
- Small businesses
- Architects
- Developers
- Contractors
- Fellow engineers
How can we help you?
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ASCE 41 seismic evaluation Core service
How your building may perform in an earthquake, from screening to full evaluation, with focused retrofit options.
Ask about this -
Structural inspection Core service
Cracks, rust, sagging, or damage: we inspect, find the cause, and tell you what to do.
Ask about this -
Compliance certification
We assess your building and certify it if it’s structurally compliant.
Ask about this -
Renovations & added floors
Find out if your building can take the change before you build.
Ask about this -
Second opinions
An independent check of your contractor’s work or another engineer’s design.
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Structural design
Concrete and steel buildings up to high-rise, with full plans, computations, and reports.
Ask about this
Field testing
Available in-house across Metro Manila & Greater Metro Manila.
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Concrete coring
Precise drilling to extract core samples for strength testing, or to make clean openings.
Request a quote -
Rebar scanning
Non-destructive radar scanning to locate rebar and check concrete cover.
Request a quote -
Rebound hammer testing
A quick surface test to compare concrete quality and find weaker areas.
Best paired with cores. Readings alone don’t confirm strength.
Request a quote -
UPV testing Coming soon
Ultrasonic testing to help find hidden cracks, voids, and defects.
How deep do we look?
How deep the evaluation goes
ASCE 41–17
We start with a screening and only go deeper if the findings call for it.
A checklist review of the whole building.
Flags possible weak points from the building’s layout, system, and available records.
TELLS YOU
Whether a closer look is needed.
Targeted checks on what was flagged.
Focused analysis of the specific issues, within the method’s limits.
TELLS YOU
Whether those issues need action.
A detailed look at the whole structure.
A detailed analysis of the whole building, matched to the project’s needs.
TELLS YOU
A strong basis for retrofit decisions.
The tier, standard edition, and analysis method are chosen to suit each building and its agreed performance objective.
About ASCE 41Warning signs
Signs your building may need a check
Tap a number to see what each sign can mean. Many cracks are harmless. Some aren’t.
Cracks in walls, beams, or columns
- Could mean
- Movement, overloading, or earthquake damage. Sometimes nothing serious.
- What we do
- Map and measure them, then tell you which ones matter.
Rust stains or concrete falling off
- Could mean
- The steel inside the concrete may be corroding.
- What we do
- Check how far it has spread and recommend repairs.
Sagging floors, beams, or roofs
- Could mean
- Overloading or long-term deterioration.
- What we do
- Measure it and check that it can still carry its load.
Doors that stick, floors that slope
- Could mean
- Part of the foundation may have settled.
- What we do
- Trace the movement and advise on next steps.
After an earthquake, fire, or flood
- Could mean
- Damage isn’t always visible from the outside.
- What we do
- Inspect, and tell you if repairs or further checks are needed.
A new floor, water tank, or heavy equipment
- Could mean
- A load the building wasn’t designed to carry.
- What we do
- Check before you build, and design strengthening if needed.
Looks urgent? If cracks are widening fast, something is sagging suddenly, or concrete is falling, keep people away and get help right away.
Ask us to take a lookSaving money & compliance
Pay only for what your building needs, and know it complies
We assess what’s already there, agree the performance target with you, and certify the building if it complies. New designs and retrofits come with full plans, computations, and reports.
- 1
Confirm the requirements
That apply to your building and its use.
- 2
Assess first
Inspect and test what exists, and keep what’s already adequate.
- 3
Agree on the target
Chosen with you, based on use and risk category.
- 4
Certify or document
A certification if it complies, or plans, computations, and reports.
Common reasons owners call us
Savings are never guaranteed, and we certify only after assessing the building, and only if it complies. If it doesn’t, we tell you what’s needed.
Pick a performance target
Collapse Prevention: may be badly damaged in a major earthquake, but should not collapse. Our usual starting point.
Life Safety: damaged, but with a margin against collapse. More protection, more work.
Immediate Occupancy: limited damage, usable soon after. Often for hospitals and essential facilities.
Strengthening work
Least
StrengthenedKept as isIllustrative only
For engineers & architects NSCP 2015, ASCE 41, and performance objectives
New-building design checks and existing-building evaluation answer related but different questions. ASCE 41 is specifically developed for the seismic evaluation and retrofit of existing buildings. It considers both strength and deformation capacity against defined performance objectives. We use ASCE 41-17 where appropriate, selecting linear or nonlinear procedures to suit the building and the evaluation requirements. The performance objective is agreed with the client, and buildings in higher risk categories, such as essential facilities, may require higher performance levels. Read the ASCE 41-17 overview ↗
Applicable NSCP provisions, Philippine requirements, and authority approvals remain part of the project’s design basis. ASCE 41 is not an automatic exemption from them. For example, DPWH’s 2020 clarification for its “The Big One” Phase III projects required NSCP 2015 together with ASCE 41-13 Life Safety criteria. The applicable requirements must be established for each project. Read the DPWH project clarification (PDF) ↗
How a project works
- 1
Tell us what’s going on
Photos and drawings help, but aren’t required.
- 2
Agree on scope & fees
Before any work begins.
- 3
We inspect & test
On site, as agreed.
- 4
You get clear answers
Findings and next steps, in plain words.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you’ve noticed. We’ll point you to the right next step.
The engineers behind Silangan
CO-FOUNDER
Virgilio L. Velasco III
RCEAssociate Member, ASEP
University of Mindanao
Structural design and detailing of concrete and steel buildings, with a focus on assessment and retrofitting using ASCE 41.
Proud members of ASEP, the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines
RCE: Registered Civil Engineer · MEng: Master of Engineering
Questions
Common questions
Is the crack in my wall dangerous?
It depends on where it is, how wide it is, and whether it’s growing. Many plaster cracks are cosmetic; others point to structural movement. If cracks widen quickly or concrete is falling, keep people away and get help right away.
Will my building be “earthquake-proof”?
No building is. We agree on a performance target with you. For many ordinary buildings that’s Collapse Prevention: the building may be badly damaged in a major earthquake but should not collapse. Life Safety or Immediate Occupancy give more protection, and essential facilities or higher risk categories may require them.
Will an assessment always save me money?
Not always, and we won’t promise it. An assessment can show where work isn’t needed, or confirm that substantial strengthening is.
Can you certify that my building is compliant?
Yes, after we check and assess it. If it meets the applicable structural requirements, we certify it. If it doesn’t, we explain what’s needed. New designs and retrofits come with full plans, computations, and reports.
Can you check my contractor’s work?
Yes. We inspect construction against the approved plans and can scan for rebar or test the concrete where questions arise. We also review designs prepared by others.
Does a visual inspection prove my building is safe?
No. It records what can be seen and shows whether more investigation is needed. It does not, by itself, establish structural capacity or seismic performance.
How are fees and timelines set?
They depend on the building’s size, available records, access, and the testing and analysis needed. We agree on them after reviewing your project information.
Where do you work?
Field work and testing cover Metro Manila and Greater Metro Manila. Arrangements are confirmed when the scope is discussed.
Start here
Tell us what’s going on
Email us at info@silanganengineering.com, or answer a few questions below and we’ll turn them into an email for you.
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