Faulty construction blamed for Parañaque tragedy

“Apparently unsound construction methods and practices” allegedly caused last week’s construction site tragedy in Parañaque City, which resulted in the death of three people, according to a report.

Members of an inspection team formed by city building official Elmor Vita said in a preliminary report that engineers or architects involved in the project may be held liable for damages.

The team said what remained of the eight-meter-high wall that collapsed and killed three workers at the Wilcon Builders depot construction site on Dr. A. Santos Avenue in Barangay San Dionisio last Aug. 2 appeared to be unstable and unsafe, which is why they recommended it to be demolished.

The inspection team – composed of six engineers, an architect, and four other members – said the owner, architects, and engineers behind the project must be called for an investigation.

They said that based  on the Civil Code, “the engineer or architect who drew up the plans and specifications for a building/structure is liable for damages if within 15 years from the completion of the building/structure, if the same should collapse due to defect in the plans or specifications or defects in the ground.”

“The engineer or architect who supervises the construction shall be solitarily liable with the contractor should the edifice collapse due to defect in the construction of the use of inferior materials,” they added, further quoting the law.

Vita has forwarded a copy of the preliminary report to the office of Mayor Florencio Bernabe, who ordered stricter monitoring and inspection of all ongoing construction activities in the city.

He also ordered the collection of debris samples from the construction site, which is now being examined by the Bureau of Research and Standards of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The victims’ families have yet to file charges against Wilcon Builders or the project contractor, identified as Red Stallion.

Four days after the first incident, another wall at the same construction site also collapsed during a heavy downpour, injuring another person and damaging property at the adjacent Total Gas station.