Forbes Park wall collapses

MANILA, Philippines — Traffic along EDSA was snarled after a portion of a wall in Makati’s Forbes Park collapsed amid heavy rains on Saturday.

Inspecting the wreckage, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon discovered that the structure was made of drywall instead of standard reinforced concrete and steel.

“This is not concrete. It is just drywall and tubular framing made to look like a solid wall,” Dizon said. “There’s soil and if it continuously rains, it will be filled with water and collapse.”

Dizon has ordered an investigation into the incident.

“We have to probe where this wall came from and who built it, whether it was the government, homeowner or Forbes Park. We will also summon the local building official since this kind of construction cannot be allowed,” Dizon said.

Pedestrians could have been killed by the substandard wall, he stressed.

Debris occupying two lanes of EDSA was cleared by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Broken pumping station

Meanwhile, Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to repair a broken pumping station in the city.

Floods inundated parts of Barangays Malanday and Tumana after the facility broke down, Teodoro said.

Dizon sent technicians to the pumping station.