Atienza forms team to probe collapse

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza has created a special body that would conduct an investigation to determine what caused the collapse of the Sai Building located at the corner of Juan Luna and Padre Rada streets In Divisoria, Manila and to pinpoint responsibility.

At the same time, the city government has commissioned a private firm to clear the area so large chunks of concrete can be removed and allow heavy equipment like backhoes to proceed with the manual demolition safely.

"Mahirap na baka kung kailan tapos nang mag-collapse ang building saka pa may masaktan o mamatay. We have to carefully carry out demolition work of the rubble," said Atienza, who had arrived in the area 30 minutes before the building collapsed last Friday afternoon.

Sai Building, a five-year old commercial-residential structure, collapsed at around 4:40 p.m. No one was hurt as authorities ordered occupants to vacate the building as early as 11 a.m. when the building started tilting.

Supply of electricty in the area has also been cut off to ensure the safety of the demolition crews.

The probe body will be chaired by lawyer Emmanuel Sison, the secretary to the mayor and will include city engineer Armand Andres, the barangay chairman where the building was located and two representatives from the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines.

Among other things, the probe body will look into the historical data and other pertinent information on the construction of the building, and also ascertain who were the building contractor and structural engineer, and the building officials who issued the building permit and monitored the construction of the structure in compliance with structural safety standards.

"We have to look into aspects of the building’s construction, its design, the actual procedures followed in its construction, the monitoring for compliance with established standards and the issuance of the building permit and the occupancy permit," Atienza said, adding that those determined to be remiss is their responsibilities would be held liable.

Inspection will also be conducted on the building currently under construction beside the Sai Building to determine if the laying of the foundation of the former affected the structural soundness of the collapsed structure.

Atienza further said that as soon as the debris is cleared, the Manila Engineering Department, assisted by structural engineers from the private sector, would inspect the other buildings beside the Sai Building for structural soundness.

Among those is the Habard Building in front of the Sai Building that sustained damage on the north side of its upper floors when the collapse occurred.

Atienza also assured the owner of Insular Savings Bank, that had been housed on the ground and mezzanine floors of the collapsed building, that the area will be guarded.

He instructed Senior Superintendent Danilo Abrsuza, chief of the Police Station 2 to deploy uniformed policemen around the building to prevent looting.

Unrecovered Investment

Although authorities have yet to assess the damage, Sai Building owner Ajit Mansukhani has yet to recover his investment for the construction of the nine-story building.

When asked about the actual construction cost of the building, Harry Wong declined to give an exact figure but said it was more than P10 million. Wong is a friend of the building owner and not its engineer as earlier reported.

He is also thankful that no life was lost during the collapse.

With the impending investigation on the collapse, he also maintained that there was no imperfection in the building’s design and specification because the construction followed the National Building Code.

Wong said he believes the collapse was caused by simultaneous diggings and construction around the building.

The Italy Marketing Building, which is located across the Sai Building, will also be analyzed, said city administrator Dino Nable. The Italy is located across the south side of the Sai.

"We have to analyze it to ensure safety of occupants," Nable said.

Except at stores in the immediate vicinity of the collapse, it was business as usual in Divisoria, considered the country’s trading capital.

"Malayo naman kami doon sa nag-collapse. Tuloy lang ang pagtitinda," said vendor Cherry Canlas, who sells fruits near Juan Luna street. "Pag-naalis na yung mga bato, babalik kami dahil matao yung lugar at maganda ang benta namin doon."

Atienza earlier lauded the agencies of government and volunteers groups who were involved in the clearing of people inside the Sai Building and adjacent structures as well as on the streets in the immediate vicinity as there were no casualties that resulted from the building’s collapse. "The response was immediate and the agencies and groups who were at the scene were very effective. The area was cleared and a safety perimeter established hours before the building’s collapse."

Among those involved in the evacuation and clearing operation were the National Disaster Coordinating Council, the National Capital Region Fire Command, the Manila Fire District, the Manila Engineering Department, the Manila Department of Social Welfare, police and barangay authorities as well as volunteer rescue and emergency medical services groups. Right after the building’s collapse, police moved in to secure the area and floodlights were positioned around the ruins. Only authorized work crews involved in the clearing of the debris would be allowed access.