Editorial: Inaction and lack of concern

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

THE collapse of the retaining wall of a subdivision in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City that resulted to the death of two people is an example of how blame-throwing cant be directed at one sector alone. One can consider the accident a confluence of inaction and glossing over of safety concerns by the people concerned.

The obvious target would be the developer of Casa del Rio subdivision, Commonwealth Estate Inc., as talks have swirled that the riprap that collapsed lacked metal reinforcement. Reports that cracks had surfaced on the structure do not speak well of the construction quality.

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This begs the question of whether officials of Barangay Talamban and the Office of the Building Official (OBO) had checked the construction site or not. Did reports of the cracks reach them and, if so, what were the steps taken to ensure the safety of nearby residents?

Consider that this is not the first collapse of a similar type of structure this year. Just last month, a portion of the retaining wall in the project site of Taft Property Venture Development Corp. in Sitio Sta. Teresita, Barangay Cogon-Ramos collapsed, threatening the safety of the surrounding houses.

These incidents have correctly invited concerns about the failure to strictly implement provisions of the National Building Code.

In the accident involving Commonwealth Estate, however, there is the added aspect of the houses that bore the brunt of the collapse of the retaining wall and soil being within what has been considered a dangerous zone. These were built below the riprap and on the riverbank.

Talamban Barangay Captain Jesus Remedio Jr. now claims that they had asked the residents to evacuate the area, but they obviously lacked the political will to force them to leave. This may have contributed to the failure to act on the threat of the ripraps collapse.

One resident noted that when they complained to barangay officials about the cracks in the riprap, they were instead threatened with the demolition of their houses.

Originally posted here:
Editorial: Inaction and lack of concern