The roof of an unfinished stage in Legazpi City, Albay collapsed on Saturday, August 30, during heavy rains. Six people were injured after taking shelter under the structure.
The stage was part of the P95.8-million government-funded rehabilitation of Penaranda Park and is being handled by Hi-Tone Construction, owned by the congressman's brother. Ten people were seeking shelter on the stage when it collapsed, most of them students. Five of the injured were taken to the hospital, while another remains confined at the Bicol Regional Medical Center.
Hi-Tone Construction is also known for flood-control projects and is currently under investigation by the Senate. The company is among the leading flood-control contractors in the country, along with another family business, Sunwest Incorporated.
The DPWH immediately closed the area while engineers and police assessed the damage. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the collapse and the possible liability of the contractor.
