THE Office of the City Building Official (Ocbo) is investigating the Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) management after a vehicle fell from the third floor of their four-story building on February 13.
As of Monday, February 24, DDH has temporarily closed its steel car park from the public as investigation is ongoing.
Based on a report provided by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), it was learned that the vehicle, driven by Datu Luminog Kusain Delangalen with two other male passengers, was moving up going to the third floor of the steel parking building when the driver failed to step on the accelerator.
Ocbo head Cirinia Grace Catubig said Monday, February 24, they already sent a re-evaluation letter to the hospital management after they filed an application for repair on Thursday, February 20.
However, Catubig said they had asked DDH, through its structural engineer, to re-evaluate the building’s structural component.
“Wala man gud namo gidawat ‘tong application for the repair kay gusto namo ipa-reevaluate usa para ma-check namo kung unsa ba gyud ang cause sa maong aksidente (We did not accept their application for the repair because we want them to re-evaluate and identify what caused the accident),” she said on Monday, after the flag raising ceremony.
Although her office cannot yet determine the cause of the accident, she said the rain may have caused the surface of the carpark to become slippery.
She also said DDH requested them to open, at least, the ground floor of the car park. She said their request is intended for hospital patients, especially those undergoing special treatment and check-ups.
Catubig, however, did not directly reply when asked whether there were lapses from the building’s engineering design.
But she said the victim can use it as an evidence in case the victim’s camp would file a case against DDH.
DDH, in a previous report, said they provided safety measures in constructing the steel carpark.
The incident drew public reaction, especially for car owners since it was reportedly the second time that such an incident happened. In 2015, a driver died after his vehicle fell from the fourth floor of the car park. (RGL)