ANGELES CITY — The city government is seeking to recover P9,676,850.13 in expenses incurred during the rescue, search, retrieval, and clearing operations following the collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Barangay Balibago.
The amount was included in the final report of the Angeles City Fact-Finding Committee, which conducted a four-month investigation into the incident and presented to the members of media on Sept. 25.
The committee recommended that the building’s owner, Ernest Jackson Lim, and its contractor, Golden Years Construction and Steel Works Corp., reimburse the city government for the expenses.
Special legal adviser Atty. Darwin Reyes and city administrator Atty. Noel Luzung said the city would send a demand letter to Lim and the construction firm. If they fail to settle the amount, the local government may file a civil case against them.
Structural changes cited
The fact-finding report identified structural overstressing as a major factor in the collapse. It said the building’s columns and piles were subjected to loads beyond their designed capacity.
The report also noted that changes had been made to the building’s structural frames and members during construction. The addition of steel beams and floor framing increased the structure’s weight beyond what had been considered in the original design, according to the committee.
Other construction methods and detailing errors were also cited as factors that may have contributed to the collapse.
Labor and safety violations
The committee also reported alleged labor-standard violations involving 57 workers, including the nonpayment or underpayment of wages, rest-day pay, and holiday pay. The total underpayment was estimated at more than P1.1 million.
The report further cited multiple violations of occupational safety and health standards, with administrative penalties reportedly exceeding P10.3 million. It also referred to additional liabilities identified by the Department of Labor and Employment amounting to more than P11.4 million.
Reyes said copies of the report would be provided to the families of the victims and to other government agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation, to assist in possible cases against the building owner and contractor.
Luzung said Lim and the contractor were not fully cooperative during the committee’s investigation, adding that the parties were represented by their lawyers on several occasions.
Punto! sought the sides of Lim and Golden Years Construction and Steel Works Corp. through text messages and phone calls, but they had not responded as of press time.
The nine-story building, which was still under construction, collapsed in the early hours of May 24, 2026, in Barangay Balibago. The incident resulted in the deaths of workers and residents who were trapped and crushed by falling debris.
