by: Angelica Arquero

A newly built multi-purpose building in Barangay Irisan, Baguio City sustained heavy damage during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan, raising concerns over the quality of its construction.

When strong winds battered the city on November 10, glass panels of the covered court shattered, while ceilings collapsed.

Barangay officials said they immediately noticed several structural weaknesses.

Kagawad Thomas Dumalti said the windows appeared weak from the start. “We saw that some glass panels were too thin. I told the workers those parts are too exposed to strong winds,” he explained.

Barangay officials claimed they had been calling the attention of the project contractor weeks before the storm due to leaks and wiring issues.

However, no corrective measures were made.

Engineer and Kagawad Carla Joy Cacho also observed that the glass panels would shake even during mild winds. “It means they were too thin and not properly designed to withstand strong weather,” she said.

Cacho added that a well-designed structure should not collapse easily. “If it were structurally stable, the wind shouldn’t have caused this much damage,” she said, questioning whether engineers’ recommendations were followed during the design phase.

Barangay Captain Arthur Carlos said the 50-million-peso building, constructed in 2021 and inaugurated this year under the City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO), should have withstood the typhoon. “I don’t know who to blame, the contractor or maybe the design itself,” Carlos said.

The barangay chief also pointed out that the facility, meant to serve as an evacuation center, can no longer be used safely. “It’s supposed to shelter residents during calamities, but after this, it’s clearly unsafe,” Cacho added.

The Irisan Barangay Council has appealed to the city government to repair the damaged building.

The CBAO declined to comment when contacted by RNG News.