Owners of collapsed wall may face raps

CEBU, Philippines — The owners of the concrete walls that collapsed and claimed the lives of two individuals in two separate incidents may face charges as investigation is being carried out by the Cebu City Government.

A day after two separate landslides in Cebu City last Sunday, members of the Cebu City Government headed by acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia made rounds in the affected area.

The first area was where a riprap in Barangay Tisa collapsed and claimed the life of 17-year-old Jimaimah Ibuña. After his visit, Garcia said he ordered  an assessment to check if the collapsed structure had a fencing and building permit.

In the absence of such, Garcia said the owner of the property will be held liable for the violation. Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management of the City Council, was also tasked to dig deeper into the incident and file appropriate cases against the owner should lapses be proven.

“We will file cases, not only civil kay naay namatay, pati criminal, so mao na atong direction,” said Garcia.

Despite this marching order, Garcia assured this will go through due process. He gave Garganera until Friday to transmit the official result of the investigation.

Currently, there are two injured individuals admitted to the Cebu City Medical Center. In a report provided by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 44 individuals were affected by the collapse and were evacuated to the Barangay Tisa High School.

During the collapse, Garcia said parts of the wall fell to the other side of the river, specifically above the residential structures. Currently, the debris is blocking the riverflow. He said the debris should be cleared first before the residents can return to their respective homes.

Initially, Garcia assessed that the collapsed structure violated the three-meter easement as it stands on the riverside. He added it poses risk as constant downpour may result in the movement of the soil, thus the collapse.

Regarding the collapse of another concrete wall that same day in Barangay San Jose, Cebu City, Garcia said they are also conducting the same investigation.

A 26-year-old year old woman died after the perimeter fence collapsed.

Barangay San Jose Captain Edgardo Borces said yesterday that the Office of the Building Official has issued a notice of illegal excavation to the owner of the collapsed structure whom they have yet to name.

Aside from this, the barangay also issued a cease and desist order to halt all ongoing works in the same area.

Meanwhile, suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said, he has long been fighting against flooding, landslides, and those living in the three-meter easement.

With his plans at times either ridiculed, if not ignored, now another untoward incident in Cebu City is happening, he noted.

Adding injury to it is his preventive suspension that he said denied the Cebuanos who elected him the services and programs for the environment that they would have been undertaking.

“The kalikupan is now coming out very very bad… Pila kabuok landslide? Lima na,” Rama pointed out in a press conference at the City Sports Club.

Rama said he had been advocating for the recovery of the rivers, preservation of the environment, and removing those living in the three-meter easement zones, but many continued to stay.

“I have been talking about it years ago…nga ang atong kalikupan nasuko na… Gahi ta’g ulo… Naa ta’s three-meter easement, unsay mahitabo?” said Rama.

“Muabot gani ang panahon mukalit ra nag asa gikan ang tubig, asa man nato panguhaon ang mga tawo? Adto na tas Bohol sa Negros… patayng lawas na,” Rama added.

With this, Rama said he looks forward to being back in City Hall as they have so many things left undone.

Rama also said they have  plans to take care of all the “patrimonial property of the national government” along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, especially with some areas being reclaimed without following the rule of law. — (FREEMAN)