CEBU, Philippines - A 22-year-old worker died when a portion of a retaining wall of a condominium project in Labangon, Cebu City caved in yesterday morning.
The worker, identified by the Cebu City Disaster Management Office as John Eric Llera of Canlumapao, Toledo City, died upon arrival at the hospital.
In a statement sent to The Freeman yesterday, the project's contractor, J.E. Abraham C. Lee Construction and Development Incorporated, and developer, Cebu Landmasters, Inc., said the retaining wall was erected to prevent soil from eroding and water from intruding at the project site.
They denied any ongoing construction.
"At around 10:00 this morning, a small portion of the retaining wall purposely erected to prevent soil erosion and water intrusion at the site for a condominium project collapsed. The incident took place while a welder was trying to reinforce the sheet piles serving as retaining wall."
"We want to be clear that there are no construction works being undertaken at the site, so the report that a building collapsed is misleading. What we are simply doing is tearing down the old buildings, which is duly covered by a demolition permit," the statement reads further.
"While it is true that there are excavations onsite, these are preliminary diggings as part of the demolition work. No more than one-fourth of the project site has been excavated and as part of soil protection, sheet piles were erected," it also reads.
Both the contractor and developer have provided assistance the worker’s family, including bringing his remains back to Toledo City.
CCDMO chief Nagiel Banacia said Llera was declared dead on arrival at the Cebu City Medical Center. The construction worker was covered with mud and soil when brought to the hospital.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella who went to the area said it was only after over an hour before security guards allowed him to enter the project site.
He entered the site with two policemen and an official of the Office of the Building Official.
After inspecting the site, Labella told reporters that the management had to restrict entry due to safety reasons from the unstable soil onsite. He said he is awaiting an incident report from the management and a thorough investigation into the incident especially that the project site is located near the road and houses.
"Another concern nato og malusno unya na ang other portion, gitanaw namo didto nga huyang na kaayo ang side sa dalan. Kung daghan mosulod, tingale mas mudako ang atong problema," Labella said.
Labella said the management has informed him no one else was injured in the incident.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) -7 said it will not hesitate to issue a work stoppage order against the project if investigation warrants.
DOLE-7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga said he is awaiting a report from the agency's Labor Laws Compliance Officers.
"As soon as I received the report and found out that the contractor has violated major violations, then I will issue a work stoppage order," Sarcauga said.
Major violations include lack of personal protection, the absence of a safety officer on site, among others.
Permits
Engr. Josefa Ylanan of the Office of the Building Official said the project only has a demolition permit but not an excavation permit.
"They have a demolition approval to their existing structure, sa ilang bodega. Aside from that wala na," she told reporters yesterday.
In a document dated May 3, 2016, Jose Franco Soberano III of Cebu Landmasters Incorporated applied for a demolition permit.
"I have the honor to apply for a permit to demolish TWO STOREY COMMERCIAL BUILDING located in Salvador Extension Labangon Cebu City shown in the sketch at the back of this form," the application reads.
Ylanan said: "So the probability there is that nag-demolish at the same time nag-excavate, so there is a violation."
Ylanan said the excavation is allowed only if the project can secure a building permit.
"Excavation without the building permit is a criminal offense but that can be applied for kay we cannot say man nga it's violated, they can no longer apply. They have to comply with the subsequent requirements," she said. (FREEMAN)