Engineer junks corruption yarn in tower project

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The project engineer of the controversial Halandumon tower on Wednesday denied allegations that materials used in the project were substandard.

Engr. Loben Rafael Ceballos brushed off claims of corruption in the construction of the project.

“Wala kami di may ginkawat,” Ceballos said.

He said the contractor followed the project specification.

The Halandumon Tower, considered to be one of the city’s tourism landmarks, commemorated the success of living in the city over the past 80 year.

The eight towers represent a decade each.

The Halandumon Tower became the center of controversy recently after two Korean nationals figured in an accident at the foot of the edifice.

The incident injured the driver Inhwan Shin, 46, of Barangay Tangub, Bacolod, and his unidentified passenger who was also a Korean national.

The damage caused by the accident is estimated to be P400,000, which will be paid for by the insurer of the Korean nationals.

Photos of the accident posted online triggered netizens to post comments and question the construction.

Comments posted on social media asked the Bacolod City government, the contractor, and the Department of Public Works and Highways why the P4.8 million Halandumon Tower, which was undergoing rehabilitation, was made of hollow tubes.

Ceballos said the tower was designed to be hollow.

The P4.8-million Tower, which was unveiled on June 18, 2019 during the Charter Day celebration of Bacolod City, is 14.9 meters high. Its design was drawn by the United Architects of the Philippines.

Ceballos said that while the project is considered completed, it has yet to be turned over to the city government from contractor Hummingbird Construction.