ILOILO City – A Black Saturday accident at a new edifice being constructed in Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district raised doubts on the safety practices of the construction company building it.
Not one to leave anything to chance, Jeck Conlu, chief of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, recommended that construction activities at the building be stopped.
“Thousands of people are at risk because of the ongoing construction (activities) on some parts of the building,” according to Conlu.
On March 31, a part of a construction equipment being used on the 14-storey building fell on a 16-year-old lad below. He lost his right foot.
Conlu subsequently inspected the building and discovered that while portions of it were still be completed, its other finished areas were already being utilized already for the parking of vehicles and walkway.
Warning of “accidents any time”, Conlu suggested that Mayor Jose Espinosa III stop construction activities at the building “until such time concerned agencies can provide us with a detailed evaluation report that the building is safe for public use.”
Conlu was referring to the Office of the Building Official under the City Engineer’s Office and the Department of Labor and Employment’s Bureau of Working Condition.
“Our prime concern is public safety. May ongoing construction pa gale ngaa gin-open na sa public,” Conlu told Panay News.
The building contractor is New City Builders, Inc./PN
