MGB completes probe on wall collapse

CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau (MGB) is ready to submit its recommendations on the collapse of the retention wall at Casa del Rio on Tuesday to the Office of the Building Official.

For its part, the Cebu City Planning and Development Office will look into the original subdivision plan of Casa del Rio to determine whether the retaining wall that recently collapsed, killing two people, is part of the plan or an alteration of the original plan without the consent of the said office.

Abraham Lucero Jr., MGB Senior Geologists, told The FREEMAN they are done with their investigation on the structural integrity of the collapsed retention wall and the current geological situation of the affected area.

He said the previous makeup of the area contributed to the incident, with the Budlaan River a few meters from the collapsed wall.

"Before the construction (of the subdivision), the area was already very steep," he said.

To secure the filled areas, Commonwealth Development Inc. constructed retaining walls on the west and southern tips of the subdivision to ensure stability and prevent any soil movements.

The geologist also said that the remaining part of the retention wall can collapse anytime due to stress from the soil and other factors like rain.

 MGB also recommend condemning two two-storey houses near the collapsed retaining wall and for the re-design of the wall.

The Cebu City Planning and Development Office will check the original subdivision plan to see whether the retaining wall that collapsed is part of the plan or an alteration of the original plan.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Alipio Bacalso said that they could not tell yet if the developer has committed any violation without being able to see the subdivision plan.

The CPDO is yet to retrieve the plan because it was approved on 2009 yet. While they are in the process of retrieving the data, they also asked the developer, Commonwealth Estate Incorporated (CEI), to provide the copy of the original plan to save time.

"If it is not part of the original plan, duna'y violation for alteration without permit. The preliminary approval we issued to them says that no activity other than that applied shall be conducted. There should be no major expansion, alteration without approval and clearance from this office," Bacalso said.

Bacalso said they heard initial feedbacks from the developer that the retaining wall is part of the original subdivision plan approved by the CPDO.

Bacalso said that they cannot rely on words and they need to see the plan because if the retaining wall is only an expansion that did not undergo their assessment and approval, it could be one of the reasons for the collapse.

"For example if they expanded 1,000 square meters, there will be an increase in the density, increase in the water requirement, increase in the volume of rain that goes to the surface which means you have to make some adjustments like switching to bigger pipes," Bacalso said.

He said that the Office of the Building Official is now determining the integrity of the structure since collapsed structures are within their watch.

Water build-up reportedly caused the retaining wall to give in. The collapse was hastened by the damage caused by the 6.8-magnitude quake that rocked Cebu and Negros last February.

Bacalso said he heard reports that the water failed to escape out of the wall because the residents covered the holes where the water was supposed to be flushed out.

"Ingon sila kay gi-cover-an sa mga residente kay sa ilaha man mapunta ang tubig. But we're not sure about that," Bacalso said.

Meanwhile, Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor Chief Collin Rosell said that the city can accommodate the affected residents in the city's relocation site in Budlaan.

Rosell said this should give more reason for the city to allocate funds for the development of the relocation sites. He said he asked the City Disaster Council for P50 million to be used for the development of relocation sites that will accommodate those who are living in the danger areas like rivers and creeks.

But he said the disaster council only approved P20 million which is yet to be approved by the City Council. He said the P20 million will suffice as a starting fund to prepare the Budlaan relocation site for those affected by the landslide in Talamban.

While there is no money yet, Rosell said the residents may salvage some of the materials of their destroyed houses and use these to build their houses in the relocation site. He said he will also try to ask the disaster council if it can provide housing materials to the residents. –(FREEMAN)