QC gov't orders safety measures after condo debris critically injured 2 students
The Quezon City government has ordered the immediate implementation of safety measures at the Atherton Condominium in Barangay South Triangle after falling concrete plaster injured three students, two of them in critical condition, on Tuesday, August 12.
According to the city government, the Department of Building Official (DBO) has already conducted an initial inspection to determine the cause of the collapse and to identify those who may be held liable.
“Nagsagawa na ng inisyal na pagsusuri ang Department of Building Official para matukoy ang dahilan ng pagbagsak ng palitada sa Atherton Condominium na ikinasugat ng malubha ng dalawang bata, at kung sino ang may pananagutan dito (The Department of Building Officials has conducted an initial assessment to determine the cause of the plaster collapse at Atherton Condominium, which seriously injured two children, and to identify who is responsible for the incident),” it said in a statement on Wednesday, August 13.
Following the inspection, the DBO ordered the condominium’s owner or administrator to immediately install a protective canopy along the building’s frontage to shield pedestrians from potential hazards.
All exterior plasterwork must also be removed and replaced with new material to prevent similar accidents.
The local government is also investigating the possible liability of the party that installed a telecommunications antenna near the section where the plaster broke off.
“Pinag-aaralan na rin ang pananagutan ng naglagay ng telecom antenna malapit sa gumuhong palitada. Iniimbestigahan ng maigi ang lahat ng aspeto na pwedeng naging sanhi ng pagbagsak ng palitada (The responsibility of the person who placed the telecom antenna near the collapsed plaster is also being studied. All aspects that could have caused the plaster collapse are being thoroughly investigated),” it said.
City officials assured the public that accountability will be pursued and that similar tragedies will be avoided in the future.
“Ang mahalaga ay magkaroon ng hustisya ang sinapit ng mga walang muwang na bata, at hindi na maulit ang pangyayaring ito (What is important is that justice be served for the innocent children, and that this incident will never happen again),” the statement emphasized.