Mandaue market deemed unsafe

Structural engineers from Manila yesterday confirmed that the new Mandaue City Market building is unsafe for occupancy.

Engr. Christopher Tamayo said the market’s structure has become unstable and may give way if another strong earthquake occurs.

Jorenda Casul, a 42-year-old vendor, died after shards of glass fell on her during a stampede at the height of the Oct. 15 quake.

Vendors now conduct their business outside the damaged buildings.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has asked the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the City Engineering Office to evaluate the building’s stability.

President Benigno Aquino III said he wanted to know if the contractor violated the Building Code in constructing the market that was built in 2006 during the term of then Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano.

Cortes also wants the DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to inspect the cracks found on the ground near the slaughterhouse in barangay Labogon and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) office in barangay Looc.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Paz Radaza yesterday reversed her decision ordering the resumption of classes yesterday and instead deferred the resumption of classes to Nov. 4.

Students in public and private schools were in school when the announcement was made.

“The fear I sensed on the faces of some students who went to school today and the concern shown by their parents made me decide to suspend classes, albeit late in the day. For this inconvenience, I apologized,” Radaza said. /Jucell Marie P. Cuyos, Reporter with Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza