City engineer suspends construction of SM mall car park in GenSan

GENERAL SANTOS City, Philippines—The City Engineer’s Office has ordered the temporary suspension of the construction of the multi-story car park building of SM mall here in the wake of an accident that left four workers injured on Sunday.

John March Reyes, acting city engineer, said he issued the order on Monday.

The structural engineer of the project of retail giant SM was to arrive Tuesday to inspect and investigate, he added.

“The company has hired the services of private construction firms and we are just a regulatory body,” Reyes explained.

He said work on the car park should remain suspended until the structural engineer completes his investigation or submits a new building plan and design.

Reyes said that if the structural engineer certifies the safety of the building, their office would issue them a new building permit.

He said the accident occurred in a separate building designed as a car park on the seven-hectare lot leased by SM for 25 years.

A portion of the building’s third floor collapsed while workers were pouring cement on Sunday, Reyes said. SM management hastily called for a press conference on the same day but officials of the construction firm refused to answer questions.