Davao City’s Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) in Marilog District was able to identify the houses of the victims of the Malamba Bridge collapse and was able to provide psychosocial debriefing and distribute welfare goods to the families of the victims.
CSWDO Marilog District Head Faith I. Torres disclosed this during the I-Speak Media forum on Thursday. She said that right after the incident on July 24, 2023, the district social workers and direct service implementers coordinated with the barangay for immediate help that can be extended and they waited until rescue operations were terminated to reach out to the families.
“After ato pila ka days atong gi-assist ang mga kinahanglan sa victims and families since na found out nga daghan
ang namatay, lima gyud kabuok, which is duha ato confirmed nga taga Marilog, isa taga Barangay Malamba ug isa kay taga Barangay Tamugan (We assisted with the needs of the victims and their families for several days since it was found that many died, five, and two are confirmed from Marilog–one is from Barangay Malamba and the other is from Barangay
Tamugan),” Torres said.
She said that after coordination, they were able to provide social welfare goods and psychosocial intervention to the families. They were able to confirm that one of the victims had eight children and one was a single but stood as the family’s breadwinner.
Torres said that the CSWDO continued the assistance during the wake of the victims. One victim was buried on Thursday and another one will be buried within the week.
“Padayon gihapon ang atoang assistance sa atoang families sa atong psychosocial interventions. Ang atong social worker naga-alalay sila and [ang victims] for assessment sila kay possible kung kinahanglan gyud nila atong livelihood assistance and educational assistance for the children (The assistance given by CSWDO continues and also our psychosocial interventions. Our social workers extend help to the victims and they are for assessment because they might need livelihood assistance and educational assistance for the children),” Torres said.
The non-Marilog residents who died from the incident were referred to the respective district offices, municipalities, or cities.
City Engineer’s Office Officer-In-Charge Engr. Joseph Dominic Felizarta, also during the I-Speak Media forum, said that the initial investigation revealed that the bridge’s collapse was due to the construction method used by the contractor.
But he clarified that the contractor was compliant with the requirements before they were selected for the project.
The boom truck that fell was used for the bridges’ completion using the method of the contractors. The truck, according to Felizarta, carried bailey panels to be installed. The bailey bridge is 59 percent done.
Felizarta said that given the incident they already issued recommendations for the bridge’s construction after the joint inspection.
“Kung pwede steel boom nalang ang gamiton dili lang tong boom truck (If possible, a steel boom should be used and not the boom truck),” Felizarta said.
He added that the group of noted personalities who joined the inspection will present their findings on Monday and until then, they cannot point out any liability on the part of the contractor.
Felizarta said that the construction process was suspended by the Department of Labor and Employment as the agency has required the contractor to undergo an occupational safety seminar first before it can resume. CIO
