Injured construction worker worked almost 24 hours to rush SEA Games venue

The volunteer construction worker who fractured his skull after a bad fall in a rush to complete a venue for the 30th Southeast Asian Games said he and his coworkers had to work for almost 24 hours straight to finish in time.

According to a Tuesday report on 24 Oras by Ian Cruz, Richard Delos Santos was dismantling a scaffolding at the Rizal Memorial Stadium hours before the start of the first football match to be held there.

He slipped due to the rain and fell, injuring his head.

"Madulas 'yung bakal. Medyo umambon, ayun, nadulas ako. ‘Di ko rin napansin 'yung naapakan ko sa puyat na rin,” Delos Santos said.

According to his doctor at Ospital ng Maynila, the patient is suffering from bleeding and a fracture to the skull.

Delos Santos said he was not employed by the contractor of the project but by the Department of Public Works and Highways-North Manila.

He said he and 25 other fellow construction workers volunteered to help complete the venue.

"Ang sabi ni engineer kailangang matapos 'yun bago mag 4 o’ clock ng hapon e natapos namin alas tres,” he recalled. “May darating na bisita raw, minamadali. 'Yun ang sabi ng boss namin saka 'yung engineer na kausap nila.”

DPWH-North Manila said they were not aware that Delos Santos and 25 other workers had transferred to the Rizal Memorial Stadium but added that they are willing to aid the patient.

FULL COVERAGE: 30th Southeast Asian Games on GMA News Online

Philippine Sports Commission Executive Director Guillermo Iroy said there was a memorandum that ordered all government agencies to put all hands on deck for the SEA Games.

Even though football games had already kicked off on Monday, the Rizal complex remains unfinished.

A tour of the venue revealed sloppy paint jobs, among other evident lapses in construction.

There was also no digital scoreboard during the first football match between Malaysia and Myanmar.

The scoreboard was only installed during the second game between the Philippine Azkals and Cambodia.

The opening ceremony for the SEA Games will be held on Saturday, November 30. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News