Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Thursday night (August 24) said all the buildings located near the cracks that appeared on Topaz Road in Ortigas Business District are safe.

(JEL SANTOS/MANILA BULLETIN)

“All buildings in the area are safe,” the mayor declared in a Facebook post.

“Our engineers noted that the foundation of the building within 5 meters has a foundation that is deeper than the adjacent excavation lot,” he said.

Sotto said the damage to the drainage line, which is part of the original drainage system built in the 1960s, caused the erosion of the topsoil of Topaz Road.

“The exact cause of the damage to the drainage line is still under investigation.”

According to the mayor, the Engineering and the Building personnel of the city have also inspected the adjacent excavation site and are looking into possible violations that may have caused some complications.

“The private developer/contractor expressed full cooperation and will help with needed rehab/repairs,” said Sotto.

On Tuesday morning (August 25), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources conducted an analysis using a ground-penetrating radar.

The drainage line has been plugged and diverted to prevent further seepage, the mayor added.

“Our team has conducted a rapid assessment and planning, but we are also waiting for soil testing results before rehabilitation of the drainage and road. Also, the private contractor of the adjacent excavation site will reinforce their retaining wall to prevent any soil erosion,” he said.

On August 22, cracks on Topaz Road in Barangay San Antonio, Pasig which stretched up to 70 meters were spotted. They appeared between a construction site and a condominium building.

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Mayor Vico says Ortigas buildings near road cracks are safe