The case for quality

New homes, new schools, new hospitals all that was razed to the ground a year ago stands rebuilt, by magic - the magic of human endeavor.

Salute the one-on-one aid programs that pair up Wenchuan with economically capable localities in the rest of the country - at this point let us look away from the drawbacks of the nationwide mobilization mechanisms.

Salute the hardworking construction workers from across the country.

And salute the great people of Sichuan.

Together they are creating a miracle in rebuilding Wenchuan and other parts of the quake-hit Sichuan province.

President Hu Jintao wants it to be faster. The goals previously set for three years should be achieved in two, he said yesterday in Wenchuan.

Efficiency counts heavily in the rebuilding, particularly when it comes to accommodating those who lost their homes to the earthquake. A whole year later, the question in their face is no longer to have a makeshift roof above.

In rural areas in particular, permanent housing means a sense of security and certainty. That is what the rather crowded, temporary settlements do not deliver.

For that reason, we hope all the residents there can move out and truly settle down before another chilly winter.

At the same time, we feel compelled to make a point of highlighting quality. President Hu mentioned it yesterday.

The predictability of major earthquakes remains elusive, particularly in this country. The next best precaution, then, may be buildings of good quality.

We do not anticipate a similar tremor to strike the region. That would be cruel and is statistically most unlikely, as earthquakes, like lightning, rarely strike twice at the same place.

But, ultimately, we can never know when or where such natural calamity will occur next. The only sensible way forward even as we hope for the best is to prepare for the worst.

Let schools be the most solid safe havens. That was what we heard from Premier Wen Jiabao and many others in the aftermath of the Wenchuan tragedy.

Local authorities have denied suspicions surrounding the quality of school constructions, and vowed to investigate all clues pointing to substandard materials and buildings as well as those responsible for these. We can only hope that suspicions turn out to be, well, just suspicions.

It is a pity we have no idea as yet to what extent poor construction, if it was a reason at all, was responsible for the heavy loss of lives. Yet we are sure fine building quality may be a lifesaving-plus when the earth shakes.

We worry about quality not without reason. Dozens of local firms were reportedly penalized recently for supplying substandard materials for rebuilding projects.

"Sound and fast" - that is national leadership's declared aim for the economy. We expect the same of the rebuilding programs. In no case should quality give way to speed, or any other consideration.

(China Daily 05/13/2009 page8)