Skyway Extension Project completion pushed to February 2021 following tragedy

The San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced that the target completion of the Skyway Extension Project will be pushed from end of this year to February 2021, following the tragedy over the weekend wherein a steel girder fell at the Skyway Extension project site in Cupang, Muntinlupa.

“… after initial assessment, this unfortunate incident sets back the completion of the Skyway Extension Project. From the December 2020 deadline, target completion is now February 2021,” SMC noted in its initial statement.

Following the said incident, SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang took responsibility for the victims’ welfare. 

“Even with a contractor handling construction, ultimately, we are responsible for the welfare of those who were affected. I would like to personally apologize to the victims and their families, as well as to our larger community in Muntinlupa,” Ang said.

To note, the project contractor EEI Corporation was the one handling the construction of the project.

Based on investigations, a crane tipped over as it moved into position, hitting the girder and causing it to fall. The said disaster led to one fatality and injured four others.

“This terrible and tragic accident has affected me in ways I can’t even begin to express. I have not stopped thinking about the people who were affected, the four that were injured and most especially, the person who perished, and his family. There are no words that can ease the grief of losing a loved one,” Ang said.

“To the family, I can only offer my sincerest and deepest condolences, and my personal assurance that your family will be taken care of. To those who were injured, please be assured we will provide all the means necessary for you to recover and restart,” he added.

Further, the SMC chief assured that the incident will be investigated thoroughly and that SMC and its contractor EEI will make sure even stricter measures are in place at the project site.

“In a project of this magnitude and scale, there are many redundant safety measures in place.  Unfortunately, we can’t predict every outcome, and I’m sure no one wanted this to happen,” Ang said.

“Regardless, we are working with authorities to determine the root cause of this incident. We will find out where lapses occurred and do whatever is necessary to help make sure they don’t happen again.”

Photos from San Miguel Corporation

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