Bunkhouse collapses in Cebu; 5 dead, 55 hurt

MANILA, Philippines — Five persons died and 55 others were injured when a four-story bunkhouse for construction workers collapsed in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City before dawn yesterday.

Iveen Villarin, 22; Francisco Diapera, 45; Carlos Caliwa, 60; Crisenciano Silomen, 60, and Jason Bacalso, 22, died at the scene.

Nagiel Banacia, city disaster risk reduction and management office chief, said four of the injured victims were in serious condition while most of the victims suffered lacerations and bone fracture. At least 43 workers were unhurt.

Security guard Amancio Aguhob said 30 other workers stayed outside because the bunkhouse was full. 

The victims, all workers of J.E Abraham Lee Construction Corp., were sleeping when the structure  reportedly made of metal scaffoldings and substandard materials collapsed.

In a television interview, Banacia said the bunkhouse has been the temporary quarters of construction workers building high-rise structures in Cebu.

The Cebu City building office suspended development projects being undertaken by the construction company following the incident.

Building official Josefa Ylanan said the bunkhouse is an illegal structure, noting that her office did not issue a permit for its construction.

City legal officer Joseph Bernaldez said the city government would file charges against the construction company.

“Under the Building Code, you need a permit for any structure that you are building,” Bernaldez said.

However, Cyril Ticao, Department of Labor and Employment-Central Visayas director, said he could not order the suspension of all ongoing projects of the construction company, noting that the bunkhouse is not in the project site. 

Ticao said he sent a labor officer to check if the contractor complied with labor laws and to ensure that the victims are well taken care of. – Mae Clyd Avila, Mitchelle Palaubsanon, Odessa Leyson/The Freeman, Emmanuel Tupas