1 dead, 8 hurt in construction accident

MANILA, Philippines - A mason was killed and eight others were injured when an improvised scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City yesterday morning.

Diego Reponte, 37, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Olivarez Hospital while his co-workers Rodrigo Vasquez, 36; Rey Rebojo, 41; Eduardo Romano, 53; Edwin Galan, 35; Rodel Rubios, 21; Victor Agboya, 32; John Albert Cabael, 21; and Crisanto Sorela, 29, were treated for bruises, contusions and fractures, city police chief Senior Superintendent Ariel Andrade said.

The accident occurred at past 8 a.m. at the site where the Premier Medical Center is being built at the Amvel Compound.

City administrator Fernando Soriano said he has ordered the city government’s building and engineering offices to determine whether there were any safety lapses on the part of the contractor and the building owners.

“We will look into this incident closely to determine what went wrong and to institute corrective measures so that this does not happen again,” he said.

The official said they would like to determine whether the project is covered by an occupational safety permit from the Department of Labor and Employment, among others.