CCMC contractor told to observe safety rules

CEBU, Philippines — Observe rules on work safety.

Cebu City councilors made the call to the contractor of the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) amid reports that some of its equipment poses danger to pedestrians and motorists.

In a privileged speech during the regular session yesterday, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera pointed out that the equipment of C.E Padilla Construction, specifically a crane, posed danger to the public since the project site is along a main thoroughfare – Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

She said the contractor follows “unsafe conduct” in the construction of the new hospital building.

Pesquera said the contractor’s tower crane – which still has heavy objects attached to it, is dangerously positioned facing the main road, putting the commuting public and pedestrians at risk of being hit of falling objects.

The Cebu City Council has requested Mayor Tomas Osmeña to call the attention of the contractor.

In a separate interview, City Assistant Engineer Nilo Igot told The FREEMAN that they conducted inspections before the contractor was permitted to operate the equipment.

Engineers from the DEPW are monitoring the construction operations of C.E Padilla day and night, he added.

Construction division head Joel Reston brushed off Pesquera’s statements, contending that if the tower crane was unsafe, the Office of the Building Official (OBO) would not have permitted them to operate the same.

“Once naa kay permit, you’re allowed to operate. Kay if duna pa na siya’y danger, di gyud na aprubahan sa OBO,” he said.

OBO chief Engr. Josefa Ylanan confirmed that C.E Padilla secured permit to install and operate the crane this year.

“C.E Padilla was issued a permit to install and a permit to operate the crane by OBO. And it has to be renewed annually,” she said.

She said though that it is possible for cranes to swing over the road because it is near it.

The old CCMC building on N. Bacalso was demolished in 2014 after it was deemed unsafe following the 2013 earthquake.

The new building under construction, specifically the first phase, is already 97 percent complete. The construction of the second phase is expected to follow soon with C.E Padilla still the winning contractor. — Raizza G. Aliviado, USC Intern KBQ (FREEMAN)