THE DAVAO City government has ordered the management of the Toledo Building of the Magallanes Residences to vacate all units due to “major structural cracks.” In an order dated January 17, Cirinia Grace L. Catubig, acting head of the Office of the City Building Official, said the order is based on the inspection conducted by their office, the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers-Davao, and the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines-Davao. The inspectors, she said, “observed major structural cracks on the beams and slabs after the December 15, 2019 earthquake.” Ms. Catubig also ordered the building management “to submit the structural test results, computation/calculation and comprehensive structural plan for rectification/retrofitting methods on the beams and slabs, signed and sealed by your civil/structural engineer/s for your information and strict compliance,” said Ms. Catubig. The order cites Sections 214 and 215 of Presidential Decree No. 1096, the National Building Code of the Philippines, which provides that buildings that are considered dangerous must be either repaired, vacated, or demolished “depending upon the degree of danger to life, health or safety.” The letter indicates a copy furnished to Engr. Honoria C. Pena of the DMCI-Urban Property Developers Inc. with office address in Davao City.

OTHER BUILDINGS
The developer was the same one for Ecoland 4000, also located in Davao City, which collapsed after last year’s series of earthquakes in October. The city government has also ordered another Davao project of the developer, the Palmetto’s Place, to be vacated following the discovery of major structural cracks. BusinessWorld called the listed number of the developer, but the receiver said it is now the office of DMCI Homes. In an earlier statement, DMCI Homes denied any link with DMCI-Urban Property Developers. DMCI Homes has an ongoing condominium project in the city, the Verdon Parc. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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