After accident in Sudlon: All city vehicles to be checked

CEBU, Philippines - Following the death of a Cebu City Hall employee who was killed in a vehicular accident last Wednesday, City's Department of General Services head Ronald Malacora ordered the preventive maintenance of all city-owned vehicles.

“Nagpatawag ko’g meeting para ma-remind atong mga supervisors nga before mopa-field sa atong mga tawo, ipa-check g’yud ang mga sakyanan. Even kaning modala sa atong mga heavy equipment. Dapat, safety g’yud sa empleyado ang unahon,” he told reporters.

Malacora said the vehicle used by the seven City Hall employees was assigned to the manpower division of the Building and Maintenance Section of DGS.

Last Wednesday afternoon, the city-owned Mitsubishi Canter fell from a 15-foot cliff in Barangay Sudlon 1 resulting in the death of Victor Reyes, 35, who had been with the city government as a casual employee for over 23 months.

Malacora said Danilo Oporto, 61, the driver of the vehicle has also long been working in City Hall as a driver under the department.

“We still have to check if the accident was caused by mechanical problem or human error pero sa akong pagkahibaw, kani si Danny, dugay na na sige’g padagan sa bukid, suhito na na’s dalan maong mahibong g’yud ta, aksidente g’yud,” he said.

The other City Hall employees who were injured in the incident were Winnie Cabual, 35; Michael Amante, 32; Junlyfer Cantarona, 32; Andres Esparagera Jr., 51 and Ignacio Ocampo, 34.

“I was told nga padung na sila naog sa steep nga dalan, unya daghan man na og liko-liko, sa sige og tunob sa brakes, nigahi kuno maong nangita ang driver og way nga gamay ra ang maangol,” Malacora said.

“Pagkaigo sa sakyanan sa canal, nilupad ang mga sakay sa luyo. Nauna daw si Reyes, katong namatay, ilang ingon basin og naagi-an sa sakyanan maong nagrabehan,” he added.

He said the employees went to Sudlon 1 to deliver tents and stage materials there and were traveling back to the city proper when they met the accident.

To prevent the same incident, Malacora said all vehicles and heavy equipment should be checked before they will be used by the employees.

He said the vehicle will not be used until it will be checked thoroughly. He said the last time the vehicle was checked was in February. It was not operational for two months, he said. It was used again in May until the accident.

“We are not remiss in our duty to preventively check our vehicles. Bisan sa paningkamot nga safe g’yud atong mga gamit, naa g’yuy accident,” he said.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will give P20,000 out of his own pocket to the family of Reyes whose wife is pregnant. He also said City Hall will hire her to finance the needs of the family.

“That’s very unfortunate,” he told reporters, adding that the city will also shoulder all hospital expenses of the injured employees since the accident happened in the line of duty.  (FREEMAN)