Developer told: Hasten repair of collapsed wall

CEBU, Philippines -  Residents of Barangay Cogon Ramos whose houses are located within the immediate vicinity of the project site of Horizon 101 are minimizing activities in the area that could trigger further soil movement.

 Other families whose houses are still in danger of possible collapse after the retaining wall caved in last Tuesday remain in temporary shelter.

 Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama visited the site yesterday to see for himself the situation in the area. He was met by Taft Property chief operating officer Manuel Colayco, Jr. and the company’s engineers from Manila who accompanied him in the inspection.

 Rama told the developer to hasten the repair of the retaining wall to shorten the inconvenience caused to the affected residents.

 “I wish that they would act on this matter as quick as possible. It is very fortunate that no one was hurt in the incident,” Rama said.

 Colayco told the mayor that the company will rectify the collapse portion, if not redo the whole place.

 About 40 to 45 meters of the 75-meter retaining wall was damaged. The excavation has reached 11-meter deep, according to the Office of the Building Official.

 The wall is four-inch thick in the upper portion and five to six inch-thick in the middle to the bottom portion.

 Colayco said that water build up caused the soil movement which the wall was not able to hold up.

 “We’ll take care of it. We cannot compromise the safety of the public,” Colayco assured Rama.

 Rama said that he will ask the Cebu Contractor’s Association and the city’s consultant on engineering to help. The Office of the Building Official personnel recommended the suspension of the work after an inspection last Tuesday.

 On the same day, OBO issued a building suspension order against the excavation works on the construction of Horizon 101 along General Maxilom Ave.

 OBO chief Josefa Ylanan said that Taft Property is complete with all the necessary permits. Ylanan said the suspension will remain until all the necessary corrective measures are done.

 Ylanan said there is definitely a failure on the part of the contractor since there was a collapse. They are yet to meet with the company’s engineers to determine what went wrong.

 OBO has instructed the developer to focus its corrective works on the soil protection in the collapsed area. OBO also required the developer to secure the site and the vicinity.

 Affected residents are staying in nearby pension houses. Their stay is paid for by the developer. Residents vowed not to vacate their houses permanently even if they are told to do so.

They want the developer to repair the damage to their houses. –(FREEMAN)