Worker’s death stops construction of Parañaque hospital

Construction of the The Premier Medical Center in Parañaque City—a seven-story, 150-bed modern tertiary hospital—has been ordered suspended after a worker was killed and eight others were injured when a scaffolding they were standing on collapsed on Wednesday.

This was after the city’s building official, Elmor Vita, cited the project’s “noncompliance with safety requirements for construction” and ordered Dr. Roel Peña, president of the center, and engineer James Plaza of Plaza Business Ventures Corp., the building contractor, to immediately report to his office to explain their side.

A group of engineers from city hall went to the construction site at the AMVEL Compound in Barangay (village) San Dionisio to conduct a preliminary inspection shortly after the incident, which occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a statement from the Parañaque City government said.

City officials have so far determined that the project was issued an approved Construction and Safety Health Program by the Department of Labor and Employment on June 18, 2012.

The document listed Dr. Renato Bernabe as project owner and identified two safety officers as well as a first aid provider.

It also indicated that there were 50 workers for the project with a construction timetable of 500 days from Oct. 28, 2011, to March 28, 2013.

Initial police reports said that several laborers working on the 6th and 7th floors were standing on a scaffolding when it suddenly collapsed.

Diego Reponte, 37, a mason, was pronounced dead on arrival at Olivarez General Hospital.

On the other hand, eight of his coworkers identified as Rodrigo Vasquez, 36; Rey Rebojo, 41; Eduardo Romano, 53; Edwin Galan, 35; Rodel Rubios, 21; Victor Agboya, 32; John Albert Cabael, 21; and Crisanto Sorela, 29; were treated for injuries such as bruises, contusions and fractures. They have since been reported to be in stable condition.