SENATE PROBE INTO PAMPANGA BUILDING COLLAPSE PUSHED

SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan wants the Senate to launch an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the collapse of the nine-storey building in Pampanga province, where four have been killed and 17 are still missing.

Proposed Senate Resolution No. 406, filed on Monday, May 25, seeks to look into the collapse of the nine-storey building along Teodoro St., Bgy. Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga, which, according to reports, was due to the unauthorized construction of an additional floor that may have weakened the building’s structural integrity.

“Sinasalamin ng aksidenteng ito ang agarang pangangailangan na palakasin ang pagpapatupad ng mga safety regulations sa pagtatayo ng mga gusali, pampubliko man o pribado. Dahil sa huli, ang mga kawawa nating kababayan ang nagdudusa sa kapabayaang ito,” Pangilinan said.

According to the proposed resolution, the inquiry must also conduct a comprehensive review of the National Building Code and related regulations.

It must also strengthen occupational safety standards and ensure accountability of responsible parties.

The proposed Senate inquiry seeks to establish whether negligence, substandard materials, unauthorized modifications,  insufficient oversight or deficiencies in permitting, inspection, occupational safety enforcement, and disaster preparedness contributed to the collapse.

Pangilinan, whose roots trace back to Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, expressed sympathy to the victims and their families and called on relevant government agencies to provide immediate assistance, medical support, and transparent updates on rescue and recovery operations.

“Ang prayoridad natin ay ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan. Utang natin sa mga biktima na ilabas ang katotohanan tungkol sa insidenteng ito at gumawa ng mga batas at polisiya para maiwasan na mangyari ang mga ganitong trahedya sa darating na panahon,” he said.