A THIEF caused the ceiling of a Domingo Lacson National High School (DLNHS) classroom to collapse, results of the investigation conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed.
In its report submitted to District Engineer Abraham Villareal, the DPWH, led by project engineer Ferdinand Sagada, said the materials used in the ceiling were in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and per initial observation, but the ceiling collapsed as somebody went up there.
The DPWH was earlier directed by Representative Greg Gasataya to conduct an investigation on the collapse of DLNHS classroom’s ceiling on June 19.
The two-unit, three-storey, 15-classrooms project was undertaken by contract with Supreme ABF Const. & Const. Supply Co. Inc. in the amount of P51,163,111.92, which was funded under fiscal year 2016 of the Department of Education Basic Education Facilities Fund. It was completed in August 2017.
Sagada said that during the course of the construction of the building, a theft incident reportedly happened inside the school campus.
He said that according to the contractor, numerous construction materials, such as gallons of paint, lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, electrical wires, door knobs, bags of cement, panel doors, jalousie slats, glasses and tie wires, were stolen.
“The particular school building is visible of pilferage due to lack of ample security, non-provision of perimeter fence as it is near and surrounded by illegal settlers,” he said.
Sagada noted that the ceiling manhole cover is open inside the comfort room located near the classroom number 29 where the ceiling collapsed.
He said out of the 42 doors of the school building, 24 door knobs were missing, including 11 switches with cover plates.
The DPWH also secured a copy of police blotter reports on previous incidents when materials were stolen from the project site.