THE Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) is blaming the contractor for the collapse of the ongoing construction of a school covered court that left two workers injured in Linangkayan, Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Friday, January 25.
Injured workers were identified as Jonas Taub, 20, resident of Laguindingan town; and Joel Tamparong, 40, of Naawan town.
The two were brought to the provincial hospital in Manticao after sustaining minor injuries and were discharged hours later.
PEO head Engineer Mario Batar said they will conduct an investigation to determine if the contractor used materials different from the standard specifications.
The P2.3-million project of the provincial government is contracted to C Dy Builders and General Merchandise which has other similar projects in the province.
Based on the initial findings, Batar said the workers have employed a defective construction method.
He also said the structure collapsed because workers have already started the roofing works even though the trusses below have not been completed yet.
It was also observed that the roofing materials were all piled up in one area up the roof near the section that failed.
"The construction method used by the contractor is evidently defective kay bisan wala pa mahuman ang support sa ubos apil ang mga trusses kulang pa iya nang gisaka ang roofing. What worsened it is gi-stock ang tanan materials sa taas causing a concentrated load along that area," Batar said.
Batar said the contractor may likely face penalty or cancellation of contract if it is found to have violated provisions of the contract such as use of substandard materials.
"We will revisit the contract and the Republic Act 9184 kay naa may certain violations nga reprimand lang ang penalty or cancellation sa contract," he added.
Batar has emphasized that the Provincial Government has yet to pay the contractor for the accomplishment of the project.
He said the project is 70-percent completed as of last December 2018. It started last July 2018 and is expected to be finished in few months time.
Batar said the contractor has promised to reconstruct the covered court at their own expense.
He also said the investigation will be finished in a month and final findings and appropriate actions will be taken by then.
