Davao LGU orders to stop construction of Aeon Towers

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 4 Feb) The Office of the City Building Official (OCBO) ordered the property developer FTC Group of Companies to halt the construction of the companys 33-storey Aeon Towers project following the incident over the weekend when the service road of its neighboring structure, Abreeza Mall, collapsed.

In the work stoppage order penned by Acting Building Official Roland C. Reyeson Monday, the company was directed to stop all works and construction activities within the portion of the affected / damaged structures there at the premise beside Abreeza Mall, J.P. Laurel Ave.

The order cited that this causes or poses danger, constitutes hazard to safety or public welfare, life and property based on the investigation report made by OCBO.

The work stoppage order was received by FTC Group of Companies partner I.A. Campbell & Associates Inc.on Tuesday. Prior to the issuance of the order, the company has already implemented voluntary suspension on its project after the incident on Jan. 31.

This is for safety purposes for our workers, Ian Y. Cruz, president of FTC Group of Companies, said in a text message.

The OCBO directed the FTC Group of Companies to submit an incident report and geotechnical / geological site investigation or soil investigation report within five days upon receipt of the work stoppage order.

Based on the findings made by OCBOs inspection team, Assistant City Building Official Joseph Dominic S. Felizarta saidWednesdayin an interview that they observed that the 0.70-meter diaphragm walls from Aeons underground basement have already weakened.

If it did not bend, the service road of Abreeza Mall will never collapse, Felizarta said.

He suggested that the property developer should strengthen the structures and implement mitigating measures to prevent any further damage. Apart from the service road, OCBO observed that the drainage of Abreeza was also damaged.

The FTC Group of Companies, he said, has already asked permission from the management of Abreeza Mall to place sheet piles to prevent from having erosion.

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Davao LGU orders to stop construction of Aeon Towers