Warehouse collapse under investigation

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – The Clark Development Corp. (CDC) is investigating the collapse of a warehouse that killed at least four workers and left five others injured when it was hit by a tornado last Friday.

CDC president Felipe Remollo ordered the CDC’s building and utilities regulatory department to look into the culpability of the contractor and if safety precaution for its workers have been observed.

Paul Bredes, foreman of Trust Construction Co., identified the fatalities as Enrique Laxamana, Rico Mabaga, Ryan Gradiuto and Joel Villapando.

Bredes said the workers were doing some finishing touches on the almost complete one-story warehouse when a strong tornado swirled around the building.  He said the affected workers were from Metro Manila and Cavite.

The company’s engineers are studying the debris of the collapsed structure to determine if the contractor complied with engineering standards. –Ding Cervantes The Philippine Star