Why Do LGUs Allow Residential Areas in Danger Zones?

Recently there was a terrible fire in Mambaling, Cebu that burned down 100 houses. These houses were basically built on the water and went up in flames very quickly. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/625748/100-houses-burned-down-in-2-hour-fire-in-mambaling-cebu-city

Close to 500 individuals lost their homes in a huge fire in Brgy. Mambaling, Cebu City during the second day of Fire Prevention Month on Sunday, March 2.

The fire, that hit a densely populated community in Sitio Naba, Brgy. Mambaling, lasted for approximately two hours and burned down P1.5 million worth of properties, fire officials said.

Cebu City firefighters received the fire alarm at 1:20 a.m., and immediately raised it to 2nd alarm as the flames spread quickly to nearby houses, most of which were made from light materials.

However, at 2:05 a.m., roughly 40 minutes after arriving at the scene, firefighters raised it to 3rd alarm as the fire had already affected a total area of 2,700 square meters.

Second and third alarms meant that at least eight and 12 firetrucks, respectively, were needed to put out the fire.

Fortunately, firefighters had the flames under control at 2:29 a.m. and around 30 minutes later, at 3:05 a.m., they officially declared a fireout.

Fire officials confirmed that the fire injured a 32-year-old man, identified as Lando Snani, who sustained first-degree burns on his left shoulder.

Initial findings from fire investigators revealed that the flames originated from a house owned by a certain Jorani Daomani.

The cause of the fire, however, has yet to be determined as of this report.

In the meantime, the latest count showed that a total of 105 houses were affected by Sunday’s fire, of which 100 were completely burned down.

The fire also displaced at least 480 individuals, most of whom are currently staying in nearby barangay gyms and schools.

It turns out these shanties were constructed in a no build zone. Residents will not be allowed to return. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/fire-hit-area-in-mambaling-declared-no-build-zone

THE more than 170 families who were victims of fire that struck Sitio Nava in Barangay Mambaling can no longer return to their homes after the Cebu City Government declared the area as a “no build zone.”

Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said this was the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

“They cannot go back because it’s dangerous. That is already dagat naman gud na (the sea over there,” he said in a press conference on Monday, March 3, 2025.

Garcia said the affected residents, which are composed of Badjao communities, are temporarily staying in the Viking Gym in Mambaling. 

The mayor hopes the City can provide a relocation site for them within this month.

“But in the meantime, we will no longer allow them to return. That’s a no build zone and a danger zone, it being by the shore,” he added.

Garcia said that once a relocation site is finalized, all those who built their houses on the shore would be moved, including those that were almost affected by the blaze that destroyed 176 houses and damaged one other past 1 a.m. on Sunday, March 2.

Now, how is it these houses were allowed to be constructed and residents were allowed to live there for however many years despite this are being a no build zone? Did nobody notice? Is there so much red tape in evicting people from no build zones that the hands of Cebu were tied so they could do nothing?

It turns out that these houses did not go unnoticed. Another reason residents are not being allowed to return is because the city is building a road through the area. 

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2025/03/03/2425521/councilor-guardo-wont-recommend-rebuilding

Families who lost their homes in a dawn fire in Sitio Badjaowan-Naba, Alaska Mambaling yesterday, March 2, 2025, may not be allowed to rebuild their homes in the same location as the area will soon be cleared to make way for the Mambaling Bypass Road.

Cebu City infrastructure overseer, City Councilor Jerry Guardo said this will be his recommendation, although he clarified that clearing the location has already been the plan for quite some time.

“Kana siya diha, maigo gyud na siya sa clearing operations sa DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways),” Guardo said in an interview with The Freeman.

Guardo said that even before the fire happened, residents were already informed about the impending clearing operation and had expressed willingness to cooperate.

“Anha man gyud na mag-agi. They are within the three-meter easement. Naa gyud na sila along the area,” he added.

Aside from the area affected by the fire early dawn yesterday, Guardo clarified that the entire Sitio and additional areas are also due for clearing.

“Ma-clear gyud na sila entirely,” he said. The target date for clearing is within this year or in two years time.

Guardo said the project is ongoing, albeit in phases.

It started in Duljo-Fatima and is currently in the process of constructing a bridge that will connect Duljo-Fatima to Mambaling.

So the LGU did know of these residences. They did know it was a no build zone. But they took their sweet time in evicting these people. How is that possible when recent houses which were built on top of a floating trash pile in Mambaling were demolished immediately?

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/26-makeshift-homes-demolished-in-mambaling

A TOTAL of 26 makeshift homes built along the river in Sitio Naba, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, have been completely demolished.

This was confirmed during a meeting called by Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo, head of the City’s Technical Infrastructure Committee, according to the Facebook post of the Cebu City Public Information Office, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.

The meeting was attended by barangay officials from Mambaling and representatives from concerned offices at Cebu City Hall.

According to reports presented during the meeting, the Badjao community voluntarily dismantled their makeshift homes in exchange for the P20,000 financial aid they received last week.

“The accumulation of trash beneath the makeshift homes caused frequent flooding in this part of Mambaling whenever heavy rains occurred,” reads a portion of the PIO’s Facebook post.

The information office added that with the removal of the makeshift homes, the area can now be fully cleared, addressing the persistent flooding problem. 

After the meeting, the group, led by Guardo, conducted an on-site inspection to determine the access points for the equipment needed to remove the trash and deepen the river.

It was agreed that these activities will take place next week under the supervision of the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works.

So, the city was concerned about these people building on a floating trash pile which caused flooding but seemingly not as concerned about the other people who had built houses in a no build zone. 

Now, we have seen this many times before. People are allowed to build in danger zones and the LGUs do nothing. Remember the landslide in Davao which happened in February 2024? After heavy rains 92 people died because their houses were in no build zone. The LGU knew it was a no build zone since 2008. It was a tragedy which should never have happened. Yet the Philippines is so corrupt and inept that of course it did. You can read about it here. 

All this to ask: Why do LGUs allow residents to build in dangerous no build zones? The easy answer is corruption but there must be more to it than that. We can except more incidents, they are not tragedies because they are easily preventable, like the Davao landslide and the Mambaling fire to happen in the future. 

No Kidding!

There is a lot of work to be done in the Philippines to make it a functional nation. Many of these things are very obvious. Hence the title of this article, "No Kidding!"

First a rather astute observation from the Office of Civil Defense. Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno says the building code must be strictly implemented. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1243449

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno reiterated his call for a more stringent enforcement of the National Building Code and the cessation of construction in prohibited areas of the country, to greatly enhance the Philippines' earthquake preparedness.

In a statement Wednesday, Nepomuceno said these steps are crucial in mitigating the impact of the "Big One" or the anticipated 7.2 magnitude that could devastate Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, potentially resulting in 30,000 to 50,000 fatalities.

“We have sufficient laws in place regarding the Building Code, but the challenge lies in their implementation,” Nepomuceno said.

He also stressed the importance of avoiding construction works in prohibited or restricted areas which have been identified as vulnerable to hazards based on scientific assessments.

The OCD chief also highlighted that while safety tips and earthquake drills are vital for promoting disaster resilience, its effectiveness diminishes if the structures in which people reside are inadequately built.

“The ‘duck, cover, and hold’ exercise is important, but we must also adopt proactive measures,” he said, noting that this approach is reactive. "We need to ensure that our buildings and facilities can withstand significant earthquakes.”

The OCD chief earlier expressed concern that the Philippines is currently not adequately prepared for the "Big One."

He pointed out that the West Valley Fault, which has not experienced a major earthquake since 1658 -- 366 years ago -- is due for movement.

“The West Valley Fault system is just one of six active fault systems in the country,” he warned.

Buildings need to be able to withstand earthquakes? No kidding! But we all know structures in the Philippines are plagued with substandard materials. He says the challenge lies in implementing the building code but really the challenge is making anyone care enough to implement the code. Without a will there is no way. 

The second moment of clarity is from the DepEd and National Electrification Administration who both say it is imperative schools are hooked up to the electric grid. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1243443

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday partnered with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to electrify last mile schools in the country.

In a speech, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara underscored the urgency to secure the partnership to ensure the learner’s welfare amid the Marcos administration’s electrification programs for off-grid schools.

“Now power is a basic (need), if we don’t have power, we are nothing. That’s why what we are granting today is not just electricity, not just light, but we are giving hope to our fellow countrymen,” he said ahead of the signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) with NEA.

Angara earlier said there are around 1,500 public schools that still need access to electricity.

Most of these schools are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the provinces of North Cotabato, Palawan, Cebu, Zamboanga del Sur, and Negros Oriental.

Under the MOA, the DepEd will release funds from its electrification of off-grid schools project, while NEA will design solar power systems to be procured considering parameters and specifications needed for last mile schools.

The DepEd has around PHP1.295 billion in funds for the electrification project, particularly for the purchase and installation of solar power systems.

For his part, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said electrifying off-grid public schools is a “minimum” requirement to ensure modernized quality education.

“The digital age has introduced modern ways of learning and teaching which are heavily reliant on access to electricity. Our schools ideally must have electricity for access to modern teaching tools like the internet,” he said in a separate speech.

“It is, however, obvious that not all public schools, particularly our last mile schools, have the same access to electricity. This is a disservice to our learners and hardworking teachers,” he added.

Energy Secretary Rafael Popo Lotilla, who witnessed the MOA signing, expressed full support for the administration’s interagency partnerships.

“The signing of this agreement is the very demonstration of our shared resolve to illuminate every classroom, help every teacher, and unlock the full potential of our learners,” he said.

Lotilla, however, said the country needs around PHP85 billion to PHP100 billion funds to achieve the administration’s electrification targets by 2028, benefitting not only the household levels but also schools.

“But as of this, the average budget has only been PHP2 (billion) to PHP3 billion a year, and therefore, we have a long way to go. So we are looking at ways and means to achieve the total electrification goal,” he said.

Power is a basic need in the Year of Our Lord 2025? No kidding! It is rather sad that there are communities which are not connected to the grid at this late date. Even so children have been learning for millennia without relying on electricity. There is a bigger problem at hand if lack of electricity is holding back Filipino students.

Cebu City's Proposed Ordinance to Prevent Construction Site Accidents

Construction sites in the Philippines are unsafe and deadly. Cebu City has a new proposal to prevent accidents on construction sites. CCTV cameras.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/589407/cctv-ordinance-seeks-to-boost-construction-safety-in-cebu-city

To improve safety for construction workers in Cebu City, Councilor Rey Gealon proposed installing CCTV cameras.

This proposal was discussed during the City Council’s regular session on Wednesday.

His proposed ordinance is named the “2024 OBO Central Monitoring System of the City of Cebu.”

Gealon proposed using CCTV cameras to monitor construction activities in Cebu City, aiming to ensure worker safety and compliance with regulations.

If approved, the ordinance would regulate CCTV use to protect privacy, with footage accessible only to the Office of the Building Official (OBO) and authorized personnel.

The cameras would help ensure construction meets safety standards and adheres to the National Building Code of the Philippines (PD 1096), which aims to safeguard life, health, and public welfare by setting minimum standards for building construction and maintenance.

Gealon’s proposed ordinance requires CCTV cameras for all construction, demolition, and renovation projects in Cebu City with a gross floor area of at least 250 square meters or buildings that are at least 2 stories high.

These cameras must operate 24/7 and be repaired immediately if damaged to avoid penalties.

The Office of the Building Official (OBO) will issue Certificates of Compliance for CCTV installations and collect related fees: P250 for inspection, P5 per camera for processing, and P100 per certificate.

Penalties for non-compliance include:

• P1,000 for a first offense
• An additional P3,000 if non-compliance continues for one month
• P5,000 for each additional month of non-compliance

Violators may also face imprisonment of 6 to 12 months or fines ranging from P3,000 to P5,000.

The ordinance has been sent to the Council’s Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Styling for review.

This proposal is stupid. It is a waste of money and places an undue burden on construction companies. There are also several questions here:

Who will be reviewing the CCTV footage and how often will they be reviewing it? 

Where will the CCTV footage be stored?

Are there any statistics that back up this proposal as a means of ensuring compliance with safety standards? 

This proposal is also unnecessary as laws already exist to protect construction workers. They are called the Occupational Health and Safety Standards. 

https://library.laborlaw.ph/r-a-11058-occupational-safety-and-health-standards/

How are often are these standards enforces? How often are construction sites inspected? Are there enough inspectors to go around? I don't know the answers to any of those questions but before a new ordinance is passed it ought to be investigated as to why the current laws are not enough to protect construction workers and the public.

The Philippines does not need more laws when the current laws are not being enforced.

Unlicensed Crane Operator Drops Concrete Slab on Worker's Head

Many construction sites in the Philippines are unsafe and dangerous. Here is another one.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/579677/construction-worker-crushed-to-death-by-concrete-slab-in-lapu-lapu

A miscalculation by a crane operator at a construction site in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu became the cause of a tragedy when a concrete slab fell on a worker on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

The victim, a construction worker, was crushed to death by a pre-cast concrete slab that weighed 600 kilograms.

The fatal incident reportedly happened at around 1:30 p.m. at a construction site inside a subdivision in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City.

The deceased was identified as 39-year-old Joseph Alvaro-Salburo, married and a resident of Barangay Matab-ang in Toledo City.

Salburo was installing iron grill reinforcement at the construction site at the time of the incident when a slab of concrete suddenly fell on him and crushed his whole body.

Investigation showed that the concrete slab fell because of a mistake by the crane operator who was moving it.

Police Major Jaypee Dagami, chief of Gun-ob Police Station, narrated that witnesses said that the boom of the crane was fully extended despite the very short distance that the operator was moving the concrete slab to.

Because the operator miscalculated the equipment’s weight-load ratio, it began turning sideways and the concrete slab fell directly on the victim below.

Salburo, who was only wearing gloves as safety gear, died on the spot.

This was despite the efforts of personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-R7) Lapu Lapu City District and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) who responded to the scene.

The crane operator, identified as Oliver Navarro, 39, from Barangay Masaba in Danao City was promptly arrested.

Dagami said that it was found that Navarro did not have the proper license to operate the equipment.

He said that the company, who hired Navarro as a subcontractor, may be held liable for the damage and required to pay compensation to the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, Navarro is now detained at the custodial facility of the Gun-ob Police Station pending the filing of a charge of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against him.

Dagami said that they would be waiting for the victim’s family to visit the police station and relay their decision for the formal filing of the complaint.

A man working on a construction site wearing ONLY gloves as safety gear died after a slab of concrete dropped onto his head because the crane operator miscalculated the distance he was moving the slab as well as its weight. It also turns out this man did not have a license to operate a crane. Now he is being held in jail while the cops wait for the family to file to a complaint.

This story has everything I write about on this blog. There is the wanton disregard for safety, the incompetence of not only the crane operator but the company who hired him and apparently did not bother to check if he was qualified for the job, and the injustice as the cops wait for the family to file a complaint with the possibility hinted at the man may get off by paying blood money.

It's a stunning snapshot of what makes the Philippines so backwards. 

Filipino Construction Workers Moving Heavy Pieces of Cement Drains While Wearing Only Slippers

Construction in the Philippines is a mess. It's mostly bricolage and jury-rigging. It's a surprise anything works. Especially egregious is the lack of safety on so many construction sites. Take a look at this guy moving heavy cement drains while wearing nothing but slippers.

The man could lose his foot and apparently not even he cares. Certainly his supervisor doesn't care or he would have provided boots or spent him home. You can watch the full video here:

The DOLE Says Construction Sites Remain Unsafe in the Philippines

I have written at length about how construction sites in the Philippines are very unsafe. From not wearing harnesses to wearing flip flops instead of boots a premium is not put on safety. A recent DOLE report says more than half of 100 construction sites inspected in Manila are violating safety rules.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207975

More than half of close to 100 construction projects inspected in Metro Manila are not compliant with occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Wednesday.

Based on the report of the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), the DOLE said 52 of 95 construction projects it has inspected since from Aug. 1 to 15 were found to have violations.

Among the top violations recorded are non-submission or no copy of the Construction Safety and Health Program in the workplace and the absence of or inadequate designated OSH personnel, such as safety officers and first aiders.

Other top violations are non-conduct of mandatory OSH training for all workers, including toolbox meetings; absence of a safety and health committee; and non-issuance of personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers and inadequate or improper use of PPE.

The 20 construction sites that are found to have violations of PPE are advised to implement immediate correction.

Furthermore, an authority to inspect will be issued immediately for a complete inspection of the said sites, while the remaining sites will be continuously monitored by the team.

Those with findings on OSH personnel are referred to appropriate training, such as the 40-hour Construction Occupational Safety and Health Training provided by OSHC or any DOLE-accredited safety training organization and the Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support Training provided by any first aid training provider for first aid certification.

The site visits by the DOLE team, composed of personnel from the BWC and Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), and labor inspectors from the DOLE-National Capital Region on ongoing construction projects in the region started on the first week of August.

On the other hand, the DOLE reminded construction sites to strictly comply with OSH standards to ensure safe and healthful working conditions.

It noted that major accidents resulting in disability or death, or major illnesses are likely to occur among high-risk establishments if no preventive or control measures are in place, the guidelines further state.

Safety violations have consequences. A day after this report was published a wall at Quezon City hall collapsed. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/18/1-dead-4-hurt-as-wall-collapse-in-qc-hall-construction-site

A construction worker died while four others were hurt after a wall at a construction site at the Quezon City Hall compound collapsed on Thursday evening, Aug. 17.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said that rescuers responded to the area after the wall collapsed at the Civic Center B Building, Quezon City Hall at around 10:14 p.m.

The fatality was identified as Russel Guezo, 20, who was trapped under the collapsed wall.

The BFP said his body was retrieved at around 11:51 p.m.

The three injured victims were identified as Russel Erezo, 22, of Siargao Del Norte; Erwin Ramos, 32, and Joshua Garcia, 23, both from Novaliches, Quezon City; and Christian Mamposte, 20, of Barangay Krus Na Ligas, in the city.

"The local government has instructed the City Engineering Department to investigate the collapsed part of the wall this evening at the construction site at the Civic Center B Building of Quezon City Hall,"  the local government said in a statement.

"Based on the initial report, a part of the wall of the building collapsed where the private contractor was supposed to place a scenic elevator," it added.

The city government said that among the factors it will investigate are the system implemented by the contractor at the construction site and whether it gave importance to the aspect of occupational safety.

What a coincidence! Or is it? It's not clear why this wall collapsed. It could have been anything from lack of safety measures to using substandard materials. The fact is Philippine construction sites remain dangerous and that is a bona fide measurable fact acknowledged by no less than the DOLE.

Why Are Bridges in the Philippines Collapsing?

Why are bridges in the Philippines collapsing? Let's take a look at five cases from this year and see what we can learn. We shall do this in chronological order.

April 29th, 2022

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/dead-philippine-bridge-collapses-heavy-traffic-84365680

An old, earthquake-damaged bridge collapsed under heavy traffic in a central Philippine town, sending about a dozen vehicles plummeting into the river below and killing at least four people, officials said Thursday.

Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Roque Eduardo Vega said an initial investigation showed the bridge gave way under the weight of vehicles stuck in a traffic jam on it, including a truck loaded with sand and gravel to be used in the construction of a nearby bridge.

“The weight of the truck and its cargo caused serious tension to the bridge that caused its collapse,” Vega told reporters.

The bridge that collapsed had been damaged by a 2013 earthquake that devastated Bohol, but authorities allowed its temporary use while another bridge was being constructed, police said.

This bridge was earthquake-damaged but was still allowed to be used while another bridge was being constructed. The nature of the damage is not stated but how is it that in 9 years a new bridge had not been built or the old one fixed? That is unconscionable. The straw that broke the bridge's back was a truck which may or may not have been overloaded but certainly strained the bridge to the point of collapsing. 

June 15, 2022

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176828

A personnel of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its two on-the-job trainees (OJTs) were injured after a hanging bridge they were crossing collapsed in Barangay Latazon in the Municipality of Laua-an on Wednesday.

Antique Trade and Industry development specialist Glen Fernando, in an interview on Thursday, identified the injured as information technology personnel John Michael Villabert and OJTs Arlene Bangcaya of Barangay Necesito and Allyn Joy Necor of Barangay Intao, all from the said municipality.

Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Officer Broderick Train, in a separate interview, said the Municipal DRRMO of Laua-an was able to respond immediately to the scene.

“The cemented post of the hanging bridge toppled while its cable wire has collapsed that caused the accident,” he said.

The bridge collapsed due to overloading, according to Train.

“Villabert and the two OJTs were crossing the hanging bridge ahead of (Provincial) Director Dinda Tamayo when the Latazon hanging bridge gave way that caused the accident,” Fernando said in an interview.

This was only a pedestrian bridge but the cause given for the collapse is that it was overloaded. If a suspension bridge cannot be built that can handle the weight of three people that is definitely a problem.

June 16, 2022

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/16/another-bridge-collapses-in-bohol-2nd-in-less-than-2-months/

Nobody was harmed as the Borja Bridge in Barangay Algeria, Catigbian, Bohol buckled while a 12-wheel truck was passing Thursday, June 16. 

The Catigbian Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CMDRRMO) said the truck bound for Ubay was loaded with sand when it crossed the bridge.

According to Jake Maglajos of the CMDRRMO, the truck was believed to be over the bridge’s weight limit of 20 tons, causing the structure to collapse. The driver of the truck escaped unscathed.

Maglajos said the bridge is already old and half of its lane was closed after a one-inch gap in its abutment was discovered.

The bridge, which was damaged when a strong earthquake rocked Bohol in 2013, collapsed less than two months after that in Loay, Bohol.

This is another earthquake-damaged bridge which was allowed to be in use despite authorities knowing the bridge was unsafe. Like the previous bridge it collapsed under the weight of an overloaded truck. 

September 26, 2022

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184655

A 10-wheeler truck transporting tons of quarry materials is being linked to the collapse of a steel bridge at the boundary of Sibalom and Hamtic towns in Antique province on Monday.

The truck driven by Eljohn Orbigoso was on its way to Pavia town in Iloilo province from Sibalom when it passed by the Buhang-Egaña bridge around 3 a.m. Monday, said Sibalom Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO) Joel Odango in an interview.

The bridge load limit is said to be only up to 10 tons, but the truck was reportedly carrying around 30 tons of quarry materials.

“The truckload was over tonnage,” Odango said.

“We are still waiting for the DPWH investigation, which we hope would soon release its report, about the real cause of the collapse of the bridge so to know the liability of the driver or the person that had hired the truck,” he said.

The reason for collapse is said to be an overloaded truck but the MDRRMO spokesman says they are waiting fo the full DPWH investigation so they can know the real cause of the collapse. Perhaps it was not structurally sound.

October 20, 2022

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/10/21/Pangasinan-bridge-collapses-due-to-overloaded-trucks--says-mayor.html

A portion of a bridge in Bayambang, Pangasinan has collapsed due to overloaded trucks crossing the bridge, the city mayor said on Thursday.

Two trucks were on the Carlos P. Romulo Bridge when it caved in at 3:37 p.m. in Barangay Wawa, according to Bayambang Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao.

“Ang nangyari pong insidenteng ito ay dahil sa overload ng trucks na dumadaan sa ating bridge,” the mayor said in a Facebook video.

[Translation: This incident happened due to the overload of trucks passing over our bridge.]

"We also ask for the patience and cooperation of each and everyone as we rise above the situation,” she added.

What does it mean they will "rise above the situation?" Will the companies who own the overloaded trucks be held responsible? Will the DPWH launch a thorough investigation into the structural integrity of the bridge to rule out all causes? Will anyone be held accountable for a situation that need not have happened? 

Let's look at one more collapsed bridge from last year. 

August 2, 2021

https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/02/old-steel-bridge-collapses-in-negros-1-hurt-15-rescued/

A bridge in Barangay Balabag, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental was temporarily closed to people and motorists pending its repair after it collapsed while three vehicles were crossing last Sunday, Aug. 1.

The incident was first reported to be in Hacienda La Plata, Purok Bagumbayan, Barangay Don Jorge L. Araneta, Bago City, but upon the conversation of Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo and La Carlota City Mayor Dr. Rex Jalando-on, it was found out that it is not in the inventory of bridges under the City of Bago.

A girl suffered minor injuries while 15 persons were rescued from three vehicles crossing the bridge.

Police Lt. Joseph Jaro, deputy police chief of Bago City, said the three vehicles were on a convoy from Pontevedra, Negros Occidental to Barangay Don Jorge L. Araneta for a ministry event when the bridge collapsed while they were in the middle.

The convoy was composed of three vehicles, Jaro said – an Isuzu Crosswind with six persons onboard driven by Christopher Trupa; a Hyundai Accent sedan driven by Anthony Ciocon with no passengers; and an Isuzu pickup truck driven by Ruel Magallanes with six passengers.

Jaro said the bridge could no longer carry more than one vehicle because it was already dilapidated. He said there was no sign placed near the bridge warning motorists to refrain from passing beyond the allowed weight of a vehicle.

He said a girl, who was crossing the bridge, sustained minor injuries, as she was walking in the middle when it collapsed. She was taken and later discharged from the hospital.

This bridge also collapsed due to overloading. However, the authorities knew it to be structurally unsound but no warning sign was placed near the bridge. 

Two footbridges collapsed in Iloilo in 2017. The first in February and the second in November. On April 27, 2018 in Zamboanga two bridges collapsed due to the use of substandard materials. 

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/regional/2018/04/27/zamboanga-bridge-collapse-NHA.html

Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco blames the National Housing Authority (NHA) for a bridge mishap at a housing site.

Climaco was inspecting projects under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) in Brgy. Mariki when a portion of a wooden footbridge collapsed.

The Mayor fell into the water with Negros Occidental Representative Albee Benitez, Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, and other local officials.

In an interview on CNN Philippines Balitaan, Climaco said what happened to them was not the only mishap in the housing area.

"A few minutes later, another bridge fell in that same site," she explained.

Climaco said she does not want these to happen to recipients of the units.

"We became ourselves, first-hand victims of the utilization of substandard materials and building projects," she said.

During the recent typhoon Paeng seven bridges in the Western Visayas collapsed .

https://www.panaynews.net/storm-puts-spotlight-on-fragility-of-wv-bridges-7-fail-to-withstand-torrential-rains-floods/

Are bridges in Western Visayas robust and climate-resilient?

At least seven bridges in the region were damaged by Tropical Storm “Paeng” over the weekend.

One bridge in Aklan, four in Antique, one in Iloilo, and another in Negros Occidental incurred varying degrees of damage due to flooding caused by torrential rains, initial data from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed.

It was unclear as of this writing how old those damaged bridges were.

DPWH Region 6 has also yet to clarify how often does it inspect bridges and how regular does it conduct bridge maintenance activities.

It seems the biggest contributing factor to bridges collapsing is overloading. The truck companies which own the overloaded trucks must be held accountable for allowing such a dangerous practice. The second problem is the lack of structural integrity. That bridges damaged by earthquakes are allowed to be in operation 9 years after the fact is unconscionable. The solution is for the DPWH to run an annual or bi-annual check on all bridges to make sure they are safe. That is what Senator Pimentel is calling for. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1683900/pimentel-wants-safety-review-on-bridges-after-bridge-collapse-in-pangasinan

Senate Minority Floor Leader Koko Pimentel is calling for a safety inspection of the  bridges nationwide following the recent collapse of a bridge in Pangasinan which left four persons injured.

“Are all our bridges still safe?” Pimentel said in a statement as he cited other cases of bridges collapsing like the Borja Bridge in Catigbian, Kulafu River Bridge in Davao City, a bridge in Majayjay, Laguna and Clarin Bridge over Lobo River in Loay, Bohol.

“I am worried. The incidents are very alarming. They put doubt on the structural integrity and safety of all our bridges. It is time to evaluate the safety of our bridges,” he added.

According to Pimentel, the government should start ordering an investigation especially after the collapse of Clarin Bridge in Bohol that killed four people and injured 15 more.

“Whether it is a local bridge or a DPWH-constructed and -maintained bridge, the government should order a probe and a thorough and detailed assessment of the overall safety of our bridges led by the DPWH,” Pimentel said.

He added that a regular assessment by the DPWH could prevent any similar incidents from occurring again, as he explained that nothing prevents the DPWH from setting aside some funds from their budget to inspect and rehabilitate local bridges.

With proper engineering and safety measures in place there really is no excuse for bridges in the Philippines to collapse.

Picture of the Week: Welding

It's always shocking to see construction workers in the Philippines not observing basic safety protocols like wearing closed toed shoes instead of slippers while on the job site. The most head scratching violators has to be welders who do not use welding helmets. Instead they wear sunglasses or nothing at all. Here is a welder I recently saw doing something rather stupid and unsafe.

He is not using a helmet or sunglasses to protect his eyes. Instead, he is holding up what looks like a broken phone screen to look through. How is it that these guys can afford the machine but not the proper equipment like a helmet so the machine can be safely operated?

Construction Zone Crosswalk

Construction sites in the Philippines are not the safest in the world.  Just look at this one:

Actually they look pretty normal and safe by Philippine standards. Large gaping holes in the ground with hardly any protection to prevent accidents. But how are people supposed to cross the street?  Like this of course:

One lady walked right through the ditch! She could have really injured herself. Two others walked through the construction area around the hole. But there is always the danger of falling in. 

Why aren't these construction zones completely fenced off!?  This is insane!  This is the Philippines!

Water Utility Worker Dies Using Jackhammer

A few weeks ago I published a picture of a local water utility worker using a jackhammer to dig a ditch.  

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2020/01/digging-ditch-with-jackhammer.html

I noted how foolish it was to be digging with a jackhammer especially because the man was not wearing any boots but only flip-flops.  I did not highlight any of the other dangers that could result from using a jackhammer to dig. Dangers such as death.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1236992/worker-dies-after-his-jackhammer-hits-live-wire-during-dig-for-water-utility

Lt. Col. Aldwin Gamboa, city police chief, said in a report that Mark Renier Cardel, 26, was operating a jack hammer to bore into a concrete pavement when he accidentally hit a live electric wire inside a PVC pipe at the village of San Roque around 4 p.m. 

Cordel was with four other workers of the Legazpi City Water District during the accident.

The absolute idiocy of this situation is astounding. First of all why didn't the local water company have a map locating buried wires? Maybe this wire was buried without the city's knowledge. Second of all why was an electrical wire buried inside a PVC pipe instead of a metal conduit?

As always there are no answers to be found here. Only stupidity to leave you in awe. 

Digging a Ditch With A Jackhammer

The title says it all.  The local water company is out digging a ditch to lay down pipes and they are doing it with shovels and a jackhammer!

Can they not afford a Ditch Witch trencher?  There is an dealer in Manila. 

I have seen them digging all over so I can guarantee they would get their money's worth out of this little machine. I was on a job site once where this thing was being used and it was great. Made everything easy. But these guys are using a jackhammer!!

It's dumb. What's worse is the guy operating the jackhammer is wearing slippers! Not steel boots or even tennis shoes but flip-flops!!! No safety on this job site.

Now I am aware that there are people who dig holes and ditches using jackhammers. You can do a search and find advice on forums and even videos. But I stand by what I have written. The local water company is not a group of amateurs and should not be using a jackhammer instead of a proper trencher. And their workers should most certainly not be wearing flip-flops while operating a jackhammer!