Customs building works continue, permit issue solved

CEBU, Philippines — Construction works of the new Aduana de Cebu building project continue after the contractor has complied with the building permit requirement from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) of Cebu City.

Marco Espiritu, area manager of Verzontal Construction, said they have complied with all the requirements set by OBO after they were issued cease and desist order in May 2023.

“We submitted our documentary requirements to CPA, who is the owner of the lot where the building is constructed. We have permit from CPA to construct the building. Bale ang among mga documents nga gi submit sa CPA, gi submit ra pud namo sa OBO,” Espiritu said.

He admitted having stopped the construction works from May until November last year while complying with the building permit requirement.

The construction of the P328-million building of the Bureau of Customs in Cebu was supposed to be completed in February 2024. However, the work stoppage due to the order from OBO and the super typhoon Odette in December 2021 the project was delayed.

“Nanglimpyo pa man mi sa building kay tungod lagi ni Typhoon Odette mao na nga na delay,” said Espiritu.  The project, however, is now 75 percent complete.

“On going ang pagtrabaho sa third floor sa building,” he said.

The four-storey Aduana de Cebu building is designed to house a bigger Customer Care Center (CCC), multiple conference and training rooms, cafeteria, clinic, and a garden in the center. The current customs building will be demolished and will be made into a parking area once the new building is complete and ready for occupancy.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Councilor Rey Gealon has filed a resolution requesting the office of the OBO to inspect the structural integrity of Richmond Hotel following the collapse of one of its balconies last Sunday evening, March 10, 2024.

In a statement released to the media yesterday (Monday), Gealon said that he had filed this resolution after the incident resulted in damage of the vehicles parked in the vicinity. The debris fell from the 7th floor of the building.

“In the interest of public safety, a resolution will be filed before the Sanggunian Panlungsod requesting OBO to inspect the structural integrity of the building,” Gealon’s statement reads.

He added that upon inspection and should the building be found structurally infirm or compromised, OBO must submit a detailed report “on the matter within reasonable time to this body in order that it will be accordingly acted upon”.

According to Gealon, should there be a need for more intervention he would recommend to the Office of the Mayor the temporary closure.

“We don't want a similar incident to happen again for it may be more damaging and costly - not only in terms of vehicles or any other property, but to lives and limbs,” said Gealon.

Gealon, however, clarified that no one was harmed during the incident but emphasized that it is only fitting to implement precautionary measures and intervention immediately.

“What if it collapsed during the busiest hours of the day, that damage on the SUV could inflict a fatal blow to pedestrians and motorists leading to serious injuries or even death,” said Gealon.

The management of Richmond Hotel maintains that the structural integrity of their building remain "solid" and the incident of a falling concrete debris was "an isolated case."

In a phone interview with the Freeman Online, Operations Manager Mars Neri said that it is not the entire balcony of the 7th floor that fell to the ground but just a "concrete finishing" from the portion of the balcony.

Neri said they already met with the officials from Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office, Office of the Building Official and have discussed the corrections to be made following the incident.

The meeting was also attended by Richmond's structural engineer, Gilberto Umpad, who assured that the building remains safe for occupancy.

"Lig-on or safe gihapon among structural integrity. Safe ang building and this is verified by our structural engineer," Neri added.

The operations manager explained that the concrete finishing may have just deteriorated due to extreme heat and other weather conditions before.

Neri also said that they have been complying with the requirements of the OBO and subjected their building to regular inspections as required by law.

"Our building is safe for our guests and clients," she adds. — (FREEMAN)