Wilcon permit suspended as probe on collapsed wall starts

Following a construction accident that left at least three workers dead before noon Thursday, Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe ordered Friday an investigation into the incident. Bernabe, who also ordered the suspension of the construction permit of Wilcon Builders for its depot, said heads will roll in the investigation. "Right now, pinatigil muna sila. Sabi ko sa building official patigil muna ang construction. May insidente, kailangan imbestigahan ang probable violations (Right now I ordered the construction stopped. I told building officials at City Hall to stop the construction. An accident had happened, and I want this investigated)," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. He added that while Wilcon can eventually earn back its building permit, "they have to make certain undertakings for improved safety." At least three workers were killed and 13 more injured after a firewall collapsed during the construction of Wilcon's depot in the city shortly before noon Thursday. The fatalities were initially identified as welder Lazaro Ramos, 32; Balbino Ocampo; and Justino Abseamis. Bernabe said City Hall will investigate those in charge of the construction. Citing initial information reaching him, he said Wilcon should have its own engineers and supervisors. "May mananagot lalo kung maliwanag ang kanilang structural integrity, siyempre standards yan sa construction, they have to follow that. Kung di nila sinundan yan mananagot sila (Someone will be held responsible here especially because structural integrity appears to be the main cause. The construction has to follow standards in construction. If they failed to follow those standards, they will have to account for it)," he said. First to be likely grilled are the firm's structural engineer and project manager, the mayor said. Initial investigation showed Wilcon sought a "self-administration" building permit where it chose to have its own personnel and engineers supervise the construction of a two-story warehouse-type building. "Pag humingi sila ng permit meron silang sariling structural engineer lalo na ganyang malaking proyekto. Meron dapat sariling project manager (If they asked for such a permit, it is assumed that they will have their own structural engineer and project manager)," he said. Bernabe noted that the accident occurred while workers were raising a steel I-beam using a makeshift crane, when the firewall used as a counterweight collapsed. He said the firewall appeared to be "premature," as it was not yet dried. - GMANews.TV