FOLLOWING the death of a construction worker who fell from an unfinished skyrise, the Cebu City Office of the Building Official (OBO) ordered the stoppage of the construction works effective Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.
OBO head Florante Catalan issued the stoppage order pending an investigation.
The worker was identified as Richard Andales who fell from the 33rd floor of the building being constructed on India Street in Cebu I.T. Park, Brgy. Apas, Cebu City on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7.
Andales was declared dead on the spot when the personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reached the area at 1:30 p.m.
Catalan said the construction works will be suspended pending the investigation to be conducted by the OBO personnel.
Catalan also asked the management to furnish his office an incident report of the accident.
He said the management vowed to submit the incident report on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
To date, Catalan said, there are 500 applications for a building permit from the OBO.
Catalan said the OBO is conducting inspection of the occupied buildings for their annual inspection.
The official also urged the village chiefs to conduct an inspection, adding that the barangay officials have the authority to issue a cease and desist order to ongoing construction projects which are found to have a violation of the National Building Code.
“I would want to involve the barangay chairmen in this endeavor of checking these construction activities as it’s located in their area and they can monitor these projects well,” said Catalan.
Pursuant to Cebu City Ordinance No. 1481, village chiefs can participate in regulating the construction of buildings and other structures within the city. (JJL)