Guardo says city has not given assistance to wall crash victim

CEBU, Philippines - Contrary to the earlier statement of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the family of the woman that perished when a concrete wall collapsed in barangay Tisa has not received any assistance from the city government, said opposition leader Jonathan Guardo yesterday.

“It is not true. I was the one who provided burial, financial and food assistance to the family. I’m not surprised why there was no assistance from the city. Maybe the victim was not a registered voter. It seems that City Hall has a “voter mentality” these days,” Guardo said.

The 10-meter concrete wall was part of an ongoing development of Casa Rosita in barangay Tisa. The wall collapsed unto the house of 49-year-old Wilma Parba in sitio Tabayng Lawom last Sunday after hours of strong winds and heavy rains.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña admitted that the financial assistance for Parba’s family is still being processed, but said Guardo and his men were reportedly willing to get the body of Parba shortly after the incident.

“There was like an ambulance chase. I already told the developer to take care of the body, but Guardo’s men wanted to put it in their coffin so fine, fine…I don’t want to argue over a body, and now this is coming out,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said it is Guardo that is putting politics into the issue.

“Why won’t he extend help to the province? Why only in south district? Why not in the north district? I made sure I extend help to voters because there are millions of residents of the province who would want to become residents of the city because of the services. If that will happen, mahurot atong kuwarta sa dili mga taga siyudad,” Osmeña said.

In a related development, Osmeña said Arcena’s Development Corporation has no development permit. A notice of violation will reportedly be issued to Arcenas by the City Planning and Development Office today.

Meanwhile, the city will reportedly recommend the revocation of license of Undaloc Construction, the contractor of the project.

“The contractor committed criminal negligence or outright recklessness. It should not be allowed to participate in this development or in any other development,” Osmeña said, adding, that the incident should serve a warning to other contractors and developers.

He said the P20,000 that the project developer has given to Parba’s family does not free it from any other criminal liability.

Osmeña pointed out that the construction of the wall itself was questionable.

“If your wall is four meters, then the one below should be eight meters or double, and not less than four. Ka simple. I’m not an engineer, it’s basic,” Osmeña said. - Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)