GUIGUINTO, Bulacan—Eleven people and an unborn child were killed here after the wall of a warehouse under construction collapsed on Monday afternoon, leaving at least four others injured.
Supt. Ernesto Cruz, Guiguinto police chief, told reporters “if the life of the unborn child is included, a total of 12 lives were lost in the accident.”
In his report submitted Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina, provincial police director, the fatalities were laborers Jerald Nayanga, Nestor Maiton, Arnel Cardaño, Arnold Humawan and Edmund Bernabe, 14, of Kalayaan, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City along with masons Jonathan Sagayap, Cinto Nayanga, Rodolfo Nayanga and Joseph Bellones; Dave Avelino,7; and Agnes Tan-Santos, who was 4-months pregnant.
Cruz said the injured were masons Randy Bucayo and Junny Galela; mason Marlon Andaya; and timekeeper, Edmar Bernabe, 21.
“The workers were doing some finishing jobs on the walls and the others were missing sand and cement when the wall collapsed on them. The shanty where the pregnant woman and the child was hit killing them also,” Divina said.
He said the wall--20 feet high at least 25 to 30 feet wide—was being put up around 3:30 p.m. by workers of Hoclimco Construction Corp. on a former ricefield in Barangay Ilang-Ilang along McArthur Highway
Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio Cruz confirmed that the owner, Number One Golden Dragon Realty Corp. and the contractors were shouldering the burial and medical expenses of the victims.
Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado has ordered the construction stopped with instructions to Provincial Engineer Glen Reyes ensure projects followed the National Building Code.
Provincial Director Zorina Aldana of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has taken samples construction materials for inspection.
“Contractors and builders should know that steel bars are also passing under the quality control and product standard test of DTI,” she said.
Department of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz directed the DoLE region 3 to see if the company has complied with safety rules and regulations.
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said that both the project owner and the project contractor were liable for the loss of lives.
“This accident can be prevented, if not minimized, if these two are faithfully performing their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the occupational safety and health regulations and standards,” said Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP.
He said a separate charge must be filed for failure to pay the lawful regional wage including social protection benefits such as Social Security System, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG. - By Josephine Marianne Querubin Ignacio, With Florante Solmerin, Vito Barcelo / Manila Standard Today
No comments:
Post a Comment