Developer: Riprap wasn’t dry yet

CEBU, Philippines- The riprap of the one-hectare subdivision in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City, that collapsed on a boarding house and killed a 13-year old boy last Sunday is still under construction, said an official of the land development company.

According to AIDFAZ Development Corp. marketing head Dive Mendoza the riprap has not yet dried, which resulted to its collapse because of the rains starting last week.

“Wala pa to siya nahuman. Tungod kay sige’g ulan, nadaog sa tubig… Na-timing-an lang katong last week, sige’g ulan mao to siyang nihumok,” Mendoza said.

The contractor was supposed to continue the construction works as they noticed a crack on one side of the riprap. However, they were not able to do so because of the constant rains, said Mendoza.

Mendoza also quoted the contractor, a certain Engineer Franco Hubert, as saying that he already advised the residents of the boarding house to vacate as the “riprap was not yet completely constructed and it is constantly raining”.

Mendoza also said three of the four families staying in the house already vacated after the advice, but the Cariquitan family remained because they did not have any other place to stay.

According to Mendoza, the riprap would not have collapsed if its construction was finished.

“Dili gyod to siya ma-ingon ato (collapse). Bad timing lang gyod tungod sa uwan,” Mendoza said.

According to the developer, the construction of the riprap started two months ago. They are also going to build 20 to 30 houses in the Villa Sebastiana Tawason subdivision.

Mendoza said they secured all the necessary documents before they started the construction in the area. She said the contractor began the excavation activities last February.

Mendoza also said they were taking the construction of the subdivision slow because of the constant rains. They also cured the land where the subdivision is to be constructed.

According to the developer, they are going to shoulder the hospitalization of Vladimir and the burial expenses of Vicente Jr.

Mendoza said that a board of director of AIDFAZ is interested in giving an educational scholarship to one of the fatality’s siblings.

Vicente Jr., who was sleeping inside their bedroom, was killed after the riprap collapsed on the house Sunday afternoon. Vicente’s body was retrieved only 1 a.m. yesterday.

His sister Creslie, 3, was caught in the collapses but quickly rescued as she was only pinned by a small piece of wood. Another brother, Vladimir, 19, was also buried but was rescued by emergency responders at 11 p.m. last Sunday. He is now recuperating at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

According to Mendoza, they will also provide assistance to the three families living in the boarding house.

Tawason Barangay councilwoman Antonieta Estaño said they have provided initial assistance such as canned goods and rice to Vicente’s family.

She also said the council is working on providing assistance to the other families. They will get the budget from the 30 percent quick response fund of the barangay.

Roger Paller, head of the Mandaue public information office, said Tawason Barangay Captain Jesus Arcilla Jr., already paid for the casket of the fatality. Arcilla will also shoulder burial expenses.

Arcilla, who was rumored to be the contractor of the subdivision, clarified that he is not the contractor. Paller quoted Arcilla as saying he only owned the heavy equipment rented by the contractor of the riprap.

Barangays Casili and Cubacub also provided used clothing and a small amount of money to the Cariquitans.

Mandaue City is also expected to give assistance to the victims. City administrator James Abadia said the city is considering providing help to the families affected, including their temporary relocation.

Abadia also said that they are conducting an investigation to determine the integrity not only of the area where the riprap collapsed, but also the areas near the mountains.

The city administrator also clarified that Mayor Jonas Cortes does not have any interest on the construction of the subdivision.

“As far as I know, kung unsa’y iyang mga interes diri sa siyudad, kanang mga ownerships, properties, especially sa business, iya na nang gi-relinquish. Wala na siya’y participation,” Abadia said.

According to the developer, the owners of AIDFAZ are composed of the “old Corteses”.

Birthday

Vicente Jr. would have turned 14 today.

According to his mother, Anally, 37, one of Vicente’s siblings asked last Sunday what they were going to eat on his birthday.

“Kon naa’y kwarta, magpalit lang ko’g lechon inig panihapon,” Anally recalled her answer to her daughter on Sunday.

Anally went to eat in their living room after their conversation. She then left the house after her meal.

Minutes later, one of her children followed her to tell that a big rock fell near their neighbor’s house. When they went to check the rock, Anally said she heard the riprap crackle.

They then moved away from the riprap to save themselves. She forgot about her three children who were left inside the house, Anally said. -/BRP (FREEMAN)