2 dead as building collapses in Taguig

MANILA, Philippines - Two workers were killed and 11 others were injured when a portion of a building under construction in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig collapsed yesterday.

The incident happened at 8:15 a.m. at The Suites, a condominium building being built along 28th street in BGC, Taguig police chief Senior Superintendent Arthur Felix Asis said.

Taguig fire marshal Juanito Maslang identified the fatalities as Renato de la Cruz and Ruben Racraquiam.

Maslang said De la Cruz was declared dead on arrival at the St. Luke’s Global. Racraquiam was pinned down by concrete slabs. His body was retrieved from the rubble at 1:35 p.m.

Injured were Sandy Vargas, Jaymar Carberta, Regan Labmutin, Larry Magguray, Wendil Behim, Aldrin Gahuman, Roberto Lorca, Darwin Avara, Bernard Tugade, Jonathan Agoso and Delinger Abara. They suffered minor injuries, Maslang said.

Police said the workers fell some 10 meters after a portion of the building caved in while they were pouring cement on the upper floor.

Members of the Taguig police and city fire department rushed to the construction site to look for other injured workers. 

Police said that not all construction workers have been accounted for.

Asis said they would investigate the incident to determine if there was negligence on the part of the contractors.

The workers were subcontracted by the Makati Development Corp. (MDC) from Fastem Construction, the Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. (FBDC) said.

FBDC, proponent of the project, assured the relatives of the victims of financial support.

“We are still awaiting the official report on the number of casualties and investigating the cause of the incident. Rest assured that, together with MDC and Fastem, we will assist the families of the workers,” FBDC said.  

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano ordered the suspension of construction at The Suites following the incident.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, meanwhile, said they sent investigators to the work site to determine the cause of the accident. –With Mayen Jaymalin