Gaisano building demolition starts

CEBU, Philippines - The demolition of the fire-damaged, seven-storey Gaisano Capital building on the corner of Colon and Leon Kilat Streets started yesterday.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the demolition work to proceed without delay to prevent a continued traffic congestion.

Rama personally inspected the ongoing demolition of the building yesterday noon. A crane is being used to destroy and remove the concrete parapets of the structure’s upper portion.

People were prevented from going near the site by placing cordons and assigning security personnel in areas at least 50 meters-away from the building.

Cebu City Fire Marshall Aderson Comar said the electricity connections in the area was already restored but the establishments within the premises were still closed as of yesterday to prevent people from being hit by falling debris.

Even vehicles are still not allowed to pass through the portion of Colon Street from Osmeña Boulevard, Borromeo Street from P. Lopez Street up to Leon Kilat Street and Leon Kilat Street to Sanciangko Street.

It was the mayor, through Building Official Josefa Ylanan, who ordered Gaisano Capital building owner Henry Gaisano to demolish the upper portions of the fire-gutted structure because the building is already weak and dangerous.

A joint committee composed of Engineers Joel Reston from the Office of the Building Officials, Peter Paul Dy of the Cebu Contractors Association and City Hall consultant Joseph Abellar concluded that the 4th to 7th floors of the building were observed to be “heavily damaged and may collapse,” particularly the parapets.

Ylanan said the parapets and walls shall be removed considering the effect of long exposure to extreme heat. She said that once the parapets and walls of the upper floors are removed, there should be a thorough structural investigation on the remaining parts of the building to assess the structural integrity of the burnt building.

Meanwhile, Eric Labrada, the liaison officer of the Gaisano Capital management, confirmed that their properties were insured to three insurance firms but he refused to say the insured amount. He said representatives of the concerned insurance companies already conducted their own investigation about the incident.

Comar said although the investigators of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) had estimated the amount of properties destroyed at P55 million, they could not conclude right away on how the fire started.

Specimen of ashes taken from the area where the fire reportedly started will be sent to the BFP Headquarters in Manila for laboratory examination to help determine the real cause of fire. — (FREEMAN)