CEBU, Philippines — The back portion of a building, which sits at the corner of Gorordo Avenue and Escario Street in Cebu City, collapsed dawn yesterday and authorities said an ongoing construction of a condominium project right beside it may have something to do with the incident.
The Office of the Building Official (OBO) said the ground and weakened and softened due to the alleged failure of the 26-story condominium project to comply with adequate soil protection requirements.
The Environmental Management Bureau - 7 is also set to investigate the matter, EMB-7 Director William Cuñado told The Freeman.
Yesterday, OBO issued a cease and desist order on the excavation and civil works of the project, which is being undertaken right beside Juanita Building on the side of Gorordo Avenue.
“As per recommendation of the Chief, Inspection and Enforcement Division, Office of the Building Official (OBO), and in connection with P.D. 1096 known as the National Building Code of the Philippines, you are hereby advised to stop or suspend immediately upon receipt hereof the works on your structure or your property located at Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City for the reason marked (x) below; damage to adjacent property; failure to comply adequate soil protection,” the order reads.
OBO also directed the project contractor to submit an incident report.
The main contractor of the development is IPM Construction and Development Corporation while the sub-contractor is Corrtech Inc.
The project is that of Vista Suarez Cebu Condo/Vista Residence.
In a statement, IPM Project Manager Sunny Serrano said authorities have their full cooperation.
“We received reports earlier this morning, August 5, regarding the partial collapse of the Juanita Building adjacent to our construction site. For safety reasons, we have agreed to suspend operations until all necessary measures have been taken, and the area has been cleared of any potential danger,” the statement reads.
“Rest assured that we will fully cooperate with any and all investigations that the local government agencies may conduct in connection with the said incident,” it added.
Aside from the condominium project, OBO also stopped the construction of an 18-story building at the other side of Juanita Building along Escario Street while investigation into the incident in ongoing.
OBO also suspended the operation of a bank and a dialysis center that occupy Juanita Building and recommended that the owner of Juanita Building get the opinion of a structural engineer and a certification from OBO.
Cebu City’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Operations Head Harold Alcontin said no one was injured in the incident. They reportedly received an alarm at about 3 a.m. yesterday.
Alcontin said at least 44 employees of a Business Process Outsourcing company near Juanita Building were evacuated shortly after the incident.
Initial findings
OBO Head Florante Catalan said initial investigation revealed that a large volume of water exited the bore hole when the drilling activities, which are part of the excavation, started on March 28 this year.
He said the owner of the building was issued building and excavation permits last year.
Mayor Edgardo Labella who went to the site yesterday directed OBO to submit an assessment report within the week. He also echoed OBO’s recommendation to discontinue civil works and excavation until investigation is concluded.
He said the cease and desist order will stay if investigation result will not be favorable to the condominium project.
Labella said city experts will look check if the soil of the site where the condominium building is being built is strong enough for a 26-story structure.
“That building is a 26-story building and beside that is another building, which is an 18-story building. I instructed the Building Official to make an incident report and assessment because it could be worse,” the mayor said.
Labella said the city will also hire a structural engineer to check ongoing developments here to prevent another incident from happening. (FREEMAN)