Retail center complains of falling debris from high-rise project

DAVAO. Maintenance personnel of a Boy Scouts of the Philippines building on CM Recto Street, Davao City inspect their roof after debris from a high-rise building next to the establishment damaged their roof and power transformer, which caused power outages and leaks inside the commercial building. (Photo by Macky Lim)
DAVAO. Maintenance personnel of a Boy Scouts of the Philippines building on CM Recto Street, Davao City inspect their roof after debris from a high-rise building next to the establishment damaged their roof and power transformer, which caused power outages and leaks inside the commercial building. (Photo by Macky Lim)

THE management of City Triangle Commercial Center along CM Recto Street expressed concern over falling debris from the adjacent high-rise condominium project.

Alfredo Pontillo, property leasing officer of City Triangle, told Sunstar Davao on Thursday morning, April 11, that Vivaldi Residences has not responded to their call for action on the damage that the project has caused.

Pontillo said debris, such as scrap metals and hollow blocks, coming from the building that is under construction sometimes fall on the retail center. This has been going on since December 2018.

He said the issue was already settled at the City Engineer's Office (CEO), wherein Vivaldi signed an agreement stating that it will take responsibility for the damage and do the repairs.

However, Pontillo said Vivaldi has not fixed the damage that its construction has caused.

"The fallen debris that damaged our rooftop had an impact on our rooftops. Tungod ani, makasinati mi og gamayng baha tungod sa mga buslot sa among atop (When it rains, it would flood inside because of the holes in the cieling created by the falling debris)," he said.

Pontillo also said the center's power supply was affected due to the impact of the fallen debris, as per assessment from the Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC).

He also said the retrofitting done by the contractors of Vivaldi was not properly done, causing further damage to the building.

The City Triangle was acquired by the Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) from the Alsons Development and Investment Corporation in 2016, making it a government-owned property.

However, prior to the acquisition, Pontillo revealed that the building had also sustained damage during Vivaldi's excavation phase between 2013 and 2014.

He, however, said the case was already settled at the City Legal Office (CLO), wherein the City Triangle was able to receive compensation for the damage.

He said, "ang ilang gihimong retrofitting wala naka-prevent sa ongoing damage sa building. Dapat man gud during the excavation period, dapat na-prevent nila ang yuta from eroding, maong ang flooring sa among salog kay murag palubog nasab. (The retrofitting they did did not prevent any damage. During the excavation phase, they should also have prevented the soil from eroding, which caused our flooring to subside."

Pontillo said the tenants, especially those from the fast food, are already complaining about the situation, although none of them has expressed interest yet in ending their rental contract.

Arrangements were already made in the rental payment to compensate for the inconvenience that the situation has caused.

He, however, said the board will seek legal actions by concerned agencies, adding that he is open to the idea of lobbying it among the members of the City Council.

Meanwhile, Cirinia Grace L. Catubig of the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO) urged the City Triangle to file a written complaint so that the office will deploy official inspectors to the site.

Catubig also said a formal complaint is needed before the OCBO and CEO can once again mediate in the situation.

However, she said her office has found no violation on the part of Vivaldi as they have complied with the safety nets required by OCBO.

"Dili man gud nimo ma-prevent nga bisan nagbuhat na sila’g safety nets, naa gyu'y possibility na naay matagak kay malapas siya sa atong safety nets," Catubig said.

Sunstar Davao tried to reach Vivaldi Residences executives, but the latter have not responded.

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