THE CITY Engineer’s Office (CEO) initially concluded that the “construction method” was responsible for the collapsed bridge in Sitio Kibakak, Brgy. Malamba, Marilog District last July 24.
Attorney Joseph Dominic Felizarta, CEO officer-in-charge, said during the iSpeak forum on August 3, that they conducted a joint inspection with the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers Association of Davao, Inc., and the Davao City Office of the Building Official (OCBO) last Monday.
“Fifty-nine percent (59%) pa lang ang atoang accomplishment. Ang boom truck na naga-install og mga panel diha sa bailey bridge, na double panel na unta, didto dapit gyud nahagsa ang atoang boom truck ug bailey panel,” Felizarta said.
Felizarta said the boom truck was supposed to pass through the bridge to install the bailey panel. But the steel structure needed double reinforcement to absorb the weight.
“Amoang giistorya ang contractor, construction method gyud daw to nila ever since, nagtaod man gani sila’g taas-taas ana, forty-nine meters wala man maunsa (We talked to the contractor who said that has always been their construction method, even for longer structures. They even constructed a 49-meter panel before and nothing happened),” Felizarta said.
He said the final report on the collapsed bridge will be finalized next Monday, Aug. 7.
The bridge project is a joint venture with the O.G. Santos Construction and Bojus Sun Builders & Supply Corporation, a government-funded project which costs P64 million.
Felizarta said the contractor may face consequences based on Republic Act 9184 or otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“Naa ma’y mga offenses didto na dili matagaan og project or ma-block ang ilahang license (There are some offenses stated there that prohibit the awarding of projects or block their license),” Felizarta added.
