ILOILO City – Four of the 35 heritage buildings here are “visually unsafe”, according to the Office of the Building Official (OBO).
Engr. Mavi Gustilo, OBO head, said their team inspected heritage buildings along Iznart, Ledesma, Arroyo, and JM Basa streets in the City Proper district.
Last week the glass windows of the Locsin-Coscolluela building on corner Ledesma-Iznart Street, Barangay Magsaysay shattered and fell, nearly hitting passersby.
The four “visually unsafe” buildings have been recommended for further structural investigation to be performed by a structural engineer hired by the owner.
“May nakita na kami, visually, nga mga signs of deterioration or dilapidation,” Gustilo explained.
Except for one which was damaged by a fire before, the three other buildings recommended for further assessment are all active or have businesses operating therein.
Gustilo noted the rest of the inspected buildings were well-maintained while others have already been retrofitted.
The OBO head said they will inspect more buildings along the Central Business District, which is the city’s heritage zone, as well as in other areas in the city.
As to the Locsin-Coscolluela building where its two units have been inspected immediately on May 4, the recommendations of the OBO are the following:
* conduct insulation resistance test to monitor and determine the insulation integrity of the wiring system
* remove unused and secure active wires and communication cables and provide metal or plastic raceway to protect wires/cables from damage or exposure, and
* hire an electrical practitioner to further evaluate the system and to do repairs as determined
However, Gustilo disclosed a representative of the said building went to OBO and requested for a demolition of their building. They have also proposed to construct a new one in the area.
Since the building was built in 1920 and considered heritage, it will go through a process, said Gustilo.
“Ang aton Heritage (law), ginapa-reserve ya ang structure kon pwede pa but if not, siempre unahon ta ang public safety. Usually ang gina-conserve is ang façade,” she added./PN
