The Makati City local government has suspended all elevator repairs at Burgundy Tower after one of its elevator units collapsed and killed two repair workers and injured two others on July 8.
In a statement, Makati City spokesperson Atty. Michael Camiña said the city government is expressing its condolences to the bereaved families of Manuel Linayao and Rey Miguel Gilera.
"Mayor Abby Binay has ordered the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to closely coordinate with the Makati Police in the investigation of the case. All elevator repair works at the said building have been suspended until such time that the OBO lifts the suspension upon the contractor’s full compliance with safety protocols," Camiña said.
"We also enjoin the management of Burgundy Corporate Tower, Otis Philippines and its contractor, DLC Electron Mechanical Engineering Service, to give their full cooperation in the ongoing investigation," he added.
The spokesperson then gave assurance that the city government and all concerned agencies are committed to determining the people who must be held liable for the incident and provide just compensation to the victims.
"The city government reiterates its commitment to the safety and well-being of all Makatizens, including the clients and employees of establishments and corporate offices in the city. Rest assured that we will continue to strictly enforce safety protocols in all buildings to prevent a similar tragedy," Camiña said.
Based on the report of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the incident occurred at around 3:46 a.m. while the elevator repair crew was replacing an old elevator unit in the building located on Gil Puyat Avenue in Barangay Pio Del Pilar.
The elevator unit suddenly dropped from the 38th floor to the 6th floor at around 2:55 a.m., killing Linayao and Gilera, as well as injuring two other elevator installers.
The authorities are still investigating the cause of the elevator’s collapse.