Kin of fatality in collapsed wall in Antipolo hopes for assistance from contractor

The contractor that built a wall in Antipolo, Rizal that collapsed had yet to reach out to the kin of the lone fatality in the tragic incident, Mark Salazar reported Tuesday on “24 Oras.”

Victim Dina Lachica died on Sunday evening after getting trapped under the rubble while attempting to rescue her pet dog due to the continuous rains. Local authorities earlier said it took at least three hours to recover her body from the deep mud.

Residents said a portion of the wall fell at around 7 p.m. while its remaining parts collapsed at around 7:30 p.m. Some residents were able to evacuate before the collapse.

Lachica’s family had hoped the contractor would offer assistance, not only in the victim’s burial but also for the victim's child.

“‘Yung para sa anak niya. Kung ano naman daw ang hilingin ay open naman daw sila. Pero hindi pa kasi namin nakakaharap e kaya hindi ko sure kung ibibigay nga nila dahil sabi ko nga wala naman kasulatan. Verbal lang po e,” Gloria Sabban, the victim’s cousin, said.

(They said they were open to helping. But we have yet to talk to them. We are not sure if they will fulfill their promise because there’s no written agreement. Only verbal.)

GMA Integrated News reached out to the contractor of the construction site for their statement but they had yet to respond.

Authorities, however, said the contractor had been coordinating with them and the victims. They also distributed P500 worth of allowance to each of the 75 survivors who are taking shelter at the evacuation center.

“Sa ngayon po binigyan sila ng allowance ng contractor para sa pangangailangan pero nasa amin pa rin ang pangangalaga habang hindi pa nase-settle ang paglilipatang bahay nila,” said Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Fire and Rescue Team Head Reinnel-Ric Magbag.

(They gave out allowances but the victims will remain under our care until their relocation.)

Magbag said that based on their agreement, the Antipolo government would look for a relocation site for the victims while the contractor would provide the construction materials.

“Galing po ulit ang engineering dun sa site sa Vista Grande. Nakita naman nila na standard ang mga nakitang bakal. Ang problema nagkapondo ng tubig sa ilalim kaya humina ang pundasyon kaya bumigay ang retaining wall. Hindi pa masasagot kung may pagkukulang ang contractor kung hindi nila sinagad ang hukay,” said Magbag.

(The engineering team visited Vista Grande again but they saw that the materials used [in the construction site] were up to standard. The problem was there’s water below the site and it softened the foundation of the retaining wall. We cannot yet say if the contractor was liable.) — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News