BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the personnel of the city buildings and architecture office (CBAO) to strictly monitor the permits it issued for the demolition of private and public structures to guarantee the safety of the workers and the general public.
The local chief executive issued the directive after the collapse of a concrete wall of the old Burnham Hotel structure that was being demolished over the weekend that caused the death of a labourer and inflicting injury to five others.
“We have to make sure that building owners comply with the safety standards in order to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents that would pose a serious threat to the safety of workers and the general public.
It can be recalled that one construction worker died while five others were injured when a concrete wall of a building they were demolishing collapsed and pinned them down at the site of the Burnham Hotel, Calderon St. here around 11:115 am Saturday.
Senior Superintendent Rolando F. Miranda, officer-in-charge of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), identified the fatality as Bryan Bangsilan, of legal age, single, construction worker and a resident of San Carlos Heights, Baguio City while he named the injured persons as Jonel Francisco Aquino, 19, single; Jimoby de Guzman Paraiso, 21, single; Jordan V. Aldez Francisco, 19, single; William Flores, of legal age, all stay in construction workers at the construction site along Calderon St. and Robert Balayas Alviar, 49, married and a resident of San Carlos Heights, Baguio City.
As a result of the accident, one passenger jitney bearing plate number ACM 138 driven by Bacagal Ruffil Gomez, 34, of San Vicente, Puliwes, Baguio City and a taxi cab bearing plate number AYR 880 with trade name Ranel-Arnel driven by Teodorico Agustin Pascual, 43, of Victoria Village, Baguio City which were passing–by at that time were also hit by the wall and subsequently incurred damages. No passengers were reported injured.
Initial police investigation showed the workers were busy demolishing the structure of the former Burnham Hotel when the concrete wall of the upper floor suddenly collapsed and pinned them down below.
The construction workers were only able to be extracted by responding rescuers and police operatives after the huge concrete wall was able to be broken down into pieces by a backhoe breaker.
The victims were immediately rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) for medical treatment but Tangsilan was pronounced dead on arrival due to severe multiple head and body injuries while his colleagues were confined for further observation.
By Dexter A. See
