MAYOR BENG CLIMACO has told private contractors doing business with the local government to strictly follow engineering designs and use quality materials and follow construction standards to ensure structural integrity and quality works.
Climaco’s statement came after the local government filed charges against a private contractor and his project engineer, including 3 engineers working for the City Government over the June 24 collapse of the covered court at the Sinubong National High School.
Lawyer Jesus Carbon who heads the City Legal Office, filed charges in court against Victor Q. Ramos, owner and manager of Lamitan VJ’s Construction and Supplies that constructed the covered court; and his project engineer Dominador C. Benzal. Also charged were Engineers Romeo P. Hiso, chief of Construction and Maintenance Division; Santiago T. Solis Jr., project engineer; and Sherwin Alan R. Rabago, chief of Materials Quality Control Division, all of the City Engineer’s Office.
The accused were facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple slight physical injuries and damage to property. The local government awarded the construction of the covered court amounting to P4,166,599 to Lamitan VJ’s Construction and Supplies and was completed in November last year.
But in June, the covered court collapsed under heavy rains and injured 10 students. The students, ages 14 to 15, suffered bruises and were rushed to hospital, according to Leida Penaflorida, a teacher at the Sinubong National High School.
“It was raining hard and then we heard something on the roof, then suddenly the whole roof collapsed,” she said, adding, the students, mostly Grade 9, were at the covered court because rains were sipping in their classrooms. “We are just thankful that nobody died from the accident, but some suffered bruises. At least six students were rushed to the hospital for treatment,” Penaflorida said.
Village chieftain Eric Casipe blamed the project contractor for the collapse of the covered court. “I already forewarned the contractor that the covered court looks unsafe and now this happened,” he said.
The roof collapsed from its seam in the middle of the covered court after its steel beams gave way to the weight of the rainwater. Climaco, who was angry at the incident, ordered an investigation into the collapse of the covered court and said the local government will file the necessary charges against erring contractors, including city government personnel accountable for incidents like this, resulting from inferior quality projects.
Climaco directed Carbon to ensure enforcement of liability of contractors under applicable laws and contractual obligations with the local government, specifically on damages incurred to life and property.
On Climaco’s order, the City Engineer’s Office immediately conducted an inspection of the covered court and discovered that “all joints were not fully welded and the web members of the steel trusses were not welded to the gusset instead to the top and bottom chord, which basically was a deviation from the approved plans.”
“Also, the supposed mid-joint/apex of the trusses were fabricated and installed not in accordance with the approved plans. As a result, the project was done with poor workmanship and not in accordance with the approved plans.”
City Engineer Chris Navarro said the covered court project is a result of “poor workmanship” with the contractor not abiding with plans and specifications.
Early this year, Climaco ordered the City Engineer Office and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and the City Administrator Office to coordinate with the Department of Education to thoroughly inspect the quality of all infrastructure projects and ensure intensified enforcement of the building code. (Zamboanga Post)
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