Engineering graduate falls into open pit, dies
The dream of a 29-year-old man to become an electrical engineer figuratively and literally went down the drain when he fell into an open drainage project in Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City last Sunday.
Victim Norman Delos Reyes, a resident of Ward 3, Minglanilla Cebu, planned to take the board exams this year, until the motorcycle he was driving on his way home fell into the open pit.
“Mo-board man ako anak karon tuiga sa electrical engineer. Kay nag-review man siya while nagtrabaho sa Lapu-Lapu. Bisan pa og bayran, apan ang kinabuhi sa ako anak dili na mabalik, hinungdan nanawagan ko karon sa DPWH nga ilaha unta hatagan og pagtagad ang tanan proyekto nga adunay mga signages ug precautionary measures aron wala nay pamilya nga susama namo nga nasakitan kaayo sa gidangatan sa ako anak,” said Norman’s father, Leo Delos Reyes Jr.
He said that they got a phone call that his son was brought to the Talisay District Hospital after the accident. They transferred him to the South General Hospital because the district hospitals are not fullyequipped to handle his son’s case.
Norman died a few hours after he was transferred.
“Kaming nagbangutan nga banay, walay lain masulti maayong tawo, buotan nga pagkaanak ug daghan pa nga pangandoy sa kinabuhi ug engaged na usab sa iya uyab ang akong anak,” Leo added.
Witness Marlon Serohijos said he heard a loud sound coming from the open drainage with an estimated depth of about seven to 10 feet. He said he saw the victim struggling in the hole.
Bulacao Barangay Captain Raul Cabañero said they were alarmed by the incident.
The victim came from work in Lapu-Lapu City and was on his way home when the accident happened.
The open drainage project is under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Contractor AR Adlawan Construction is handling the project worth P15 million.
However, during their excavation they only put a caution line but not the solid barrier to prevent the motorist from falling into the open drainage.
Cabañero said three days prior to the incident, he called the attention of the foreman to place warning signs to inform the public of their construction and excavation.
Even the office of Talisay City’s Engineering Department had been reminding the contractor to place warning signs to prevent accident.
Dr. Jomar Rubio, executive secretary of Talisay City, told reporters that they are concerned of the motorists’ safety which prompted them to call the attention of the contractor.
Engineer Lesley Anthony Molina of the DPWH said that the time the contractor accepted the project, they were informed to take seriously the safety of their employees and the public.
If there is someone to be blamed for the mishap, Molina said it should be the contractor since the DPWH never lacked in reminding them to put barriers or precautionary measures for the project.
They are considering of stopping the work until such time they could have the materials to caution the public about their project.
“This will also apply to all projects not even in the city. Hagbay rako nagingon nila nga butangan og steel plate, pero rason nila kawaton hangtud nga nahitabo na gyud nga naay namatay,” Molina said. —