CEBU CITY – A member of the city council has sought an investigation after a portion of the balcony of a hotel here collapsed on Sunday night, March 10.
A PARKED sports utility vehicle is damaged after debris from the collapsed balcony of a hotel fell on its roof on Sunday night in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City. (Councilor Rey Gealon)
Councilor Rey Gealon is filing a resolution that will ask the Office of the Building Official to inspect the structural integrity of all edifices in this city.
Gealon’s move stemmed from an incident that happened in Barangay Kamputhaw where a portion of the balcony of Richmond Hotel collapsed.
A parked sports utility vehicle was damaged after the debris from the building’s balcony on the seventh floor fell on its roof.
Gealon said the incident has to be looked into to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
He said the incident could have caused serious injuries if it happened during the busy hours of the day when motorists and pedestrians are on the road.
Mars Neri, operations manager of the hotel, described the incident as an “isolated case.” He assured that the hotel building is still structurally sound.
Neri said hotel officials have already met with barangay officials and the City Risk Reduction and Management Office to discuss what measures to be taken after the incident.
He added that a portion of the balcony collapsed after the concrete finishing had deteriorated due to extreme heat and exposure to elements.
The hotel remains safe for guests and clients, Neri assured.