DPWH probes cause of Porac supermarket's collapse

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is assessing the ill-fated Chuzon Supermarket to determine the cause of its susceptibility to collapse, Secretary Mark Villar said Tuesday.

“Itong Chuzon market actually medyo bago pa itong building. Kaya ngayon ang ginagawa namin kumukuha kami ng mga samples at gagawa kami ng assessment kung ano yung naging sanhi ng pagbagsak ng building,” Villar said in an interview on News To Go.

On Monday, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit central Luzon which resulted in the collapse of the Chuzon Supermarket in Porac, Pampanga.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said seven people were killed while 81 others were hurt and 24 missing due to the quake as of Tuesday morning.

NDRRMC spokesperson Ed Posadas said most of the missing persons were believed trapped at the Chuzon Supermarket.

Villar said of all the infrastructures in the area, only Chuzon Supermarket collapsed, which prompted them to make an assessment to determine the factors that caused it.

However, Villar their current focus is the rescue operation of those who are trapped in the collapsed infrastructure. “Sa ngayon po, walo ang narekober, buhay, at may apat po na casualty,” he said.

Villar pointed out that even if the Chuzon Supermarket was erected in soft soil like lahar, it should have used "engineering solutions" to make it more durable for earthquakes.

Porac was one of the towns extremely affected by the Mount Pinatubo’s emission of lahar in 1991.

“May engineering solution yan. Puwedeng maglagay ng piling para tumibay ung foundation, kaya hindi rin excuse yung environment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Villar urged the public to report earthquake-affected establishments so that it could undergo assessment for structural integrity to ensure its safety.

“Kung meron na kayong nakikita na cracks sa building o may concern kayo, itawag niyo po kaagad sa local DPWH office para makapagdala kami ng assessment team para ma-check kung ano yung structure integrity ng building,” he said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News