Repairs at Quirino Grandstand completed by June 29

MANILA, Philippines - Repairs at the Quirino Grandstand would be completed in time for the inauguration of president-elect Benigno Aquino III, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said yesterday.

“I was assured by our consultant and the contractor FF Cruz that we would meet the June 30 deadline,” said DPWH Undersecretary for Luzon engineer Romeo Momo.

“DPWH officials, led by our National Capital Region (NCR) chief engineer Edilberto Tayao, are set to meet with a team from the camp of Sen. Aquino to conduct an ocular inspection of the Quirino Grandstand at 11 a.m. today. This would be in preparation for Sen. Aquino’s inauguration,” Momo said.

Carbon fiber would be used to retrofit the beams and columns.

“We would install or wrap the weak parts of the building with carbon fiber,” the undersecretary added.

DPWH-National Building Code Office (NBCO) director Emmanuel Cuntapay said the “carbon fiber would strengthen the columns and beams.” while the consulting firm said that “the structure would remain strong for the next 15 years.”

Cuntapay clarified that the repairs at the Quirino Grand-stand only started three weeks ago because of the unavailability of funds.