Duterte orders suspension of business permit of collapsed supermarket in Pampanga

April 23, 2019

President Rodrigo Duerte has ordered to suspend the business permit of the supermarket chain after one of its branches collapsed, killing and trapping several people following a strong earthquake on Monday afternoon.

Duterte conducted on Tuesday an inspection of the earthquake-hit Pampanga and presided over a situational briefing at the Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando.

"In all probability, the one who constructed the supermarket here could also be the one who constructed the others. I'd like to presume that although I stand corrected. So, it could be good at this time to just give them the advice to stop, cease and desist doing business until such time that the clearance given by government whether the city, city engineer or whoever is competent to review the planning and inquire into what kind of materials whether they were made or applied right sizes or was there any shortcut made," Duterte said.

A branch of Chuzon Supermarket in Porac collapsed, killing at least five. Search and rescue operations continue for other people who were trapped from the four-storey building that fell down when magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook some parts of Luzon on Monday afternoon.

According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, there were other four branches of Chuzon Supermarket in Pampanga.

He reported during the situational briefing that the owner of the supermarket was summoned by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police.

Based on initial investigation, Ano said the collapsed building was designed only for two floors, but two more floors were added.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said based on initial information, there was a problem with the foundation of the supermarket.

A forensic team from the DPWH was deployed to conduct further study of the structure, which was only four years old, he added.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Counsel chief Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said the death toll from the earthquake in Luzon rose to 16, while 14 others were reported missing.

As of 3pm Tuesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said 112 individuals were reported injured.

Government officials assured assistance to the victims of the disaster.

The Department of Education is eyeing to transfer its main office on its property at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City after the over 50-year old building, which houses the Office of the Secretary, in Pasig City was partly damaged, particularly the ceiling, following the earthquake.

A DepEd official during the briefing said they have to transfer the office of Secretary Leonor Briones and other officials to another space in Pasig headquarters while the building undergoes repair.

Duterte thanked the national and local government officials for their immediate actions to alleviate the situation of those affected by the earthquake.

He said he wanted to proceed immediately at around 2 am Tuesday to Pampanga after his arrival from Davao City, but he was prevented for security reasons. Celerina Monte/DMS