Probe Ends On Collapsed Binondo Building

When the collapse happened, some of us in the architectural community found the whole situation highly suspect and we were right to find it so. Particularly, the sudden emergence of a certain "engineer friend" of the building owner right after the collapse.

The self-identified engineer was quick to point his fingers on the surrounding pile driving activities as the culprit in the collapse saying that they could have weakened the soil of the collapsed building.

His statement made a lot of waves as most people, even in the construction industry, has never heard of this being the case before in any building's failure. For one, it would take an extraordinary amount of pressure or vibration to cause the liquefaction of soil. Secondly, the history of the local area's extensive use of pile driving and its success make the claim highly irregular.

Suprisingly a lot of us actually found the explanation more plausible than it could possibly be. The initial probe done was even focused on finding out the effects of pile driving on existing foundations as opposed to reviewing the design of the collapsed building first.

As the probe eventually went into looking into the design of the collapsed building and its construction, the gig was up. The claims of the eager "engineer friend" was seen for what it really was: "smoke and mirrors". An attempt to deflect the blame off of the usual suspects.

A probe was condcuted and as it has just concluded, the smoke has been cleared and the mirrors have been taken down. The usual suspects are back in the spotlight.

The following is the article filed by By Tarra Quismundo for the Inquirer News Service about the conclusion of this prove:

The fact-finding committee tasked to look into the collapse of the Sai Building in Binondo last July 23 is ready to release its findings this week, Manila Mayor Joselito Atienza said Monday as he directed the filing of administrative and criminal charges against the owner and those involved in the construction of the structure.

Those who would be charged for negligence are owner Rajude Mansukhani; architect Albert Chua; building contractor, architect Edward Sy, who was named Mansukhani's official representative according to records.

Also to be charged for negligence are Engineer Teofilo Go, who was responsible for the building's design; and AGVID Construction Company, the private contractor which undertook pile driving operations for Sai's foundation.

City officials who are likely to face administrative and criminal charges, Atienza said include Engineers Lirma Fajardo, who evaluated the building plans and passed it for compliance with construction requirements; Rolito Samson, field inspector during the pile driving and the first stage of construction; and Wilson Habana, who monitored the construction.

Edgardo Soriano, head of the Manila Building Office Enforcement Division, could also face criminal and administrative charges for signing the building's Certificate of Final Inspection and the Certificate of Occupancy.

"Nobody will get off lightly... to make sure this does not happen again," said Atienza.

Also liable for the building's fall are officials of Manila's Building Office, who issued permits for the building's construction and monitored work on the building.

The fact-finding committee found the building's design, especially its pile foundation, faulty, among others.

The fact-finding committee, is headed by Secretary to the Mayor Emmanuel Sison, vice-chaired by City Administrator Dino Nable, and with City Engineer Armand Andres and professional civil engineers as members.