Two hurt as ‘world-class’ market elevator crashes

By Nitz Arancon

TWO people were hurt after an elevator at what city hall once called as a “world-class public market” crashed on Monday night.

Authorities identified the victims as Bernabe Degeño, 32, and Marlou Motarde,  20, both from Claveria Misamis Oriental.

Motarde came out bloodied while Degeño suffered a knee injury when the elevator at Cogon market crashed at around 7:15  pm.

The victims were rushed to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

“Pagpaka gyud, ’Sus, abi namog bomba,” said Toto Padinit, vice president of the United Market Vendors’ Association (Umva).

Padinit said vendors helped the victims and rushed them to the hospital.

Degeño and  Motarde were bringing 500 kilos of mangoes up when the elevator’s cable snapped when it reached the second level of the market.

“Pag-abli gyud namo sa elevator, nabongog tong duha ka tawo  ug  among gipahatud  sa motorela sa hospital” said Padinit.

The elevator was among the features of the multimillion-peso refurbishment project awarded by city hall to UKC Builders through a build-operate-transfer scheme several years ago. During the Jaraula administration, city hall and UKC finalized a buyback agreement that involved millions of pesos secured through a loan.

Allan Fernandez,  manager of the City Economic  Enterprise Department (CEED), said the operation and maintenance of the elevator subsequently became the responsibility of  858 Complex which is renting the third level and part of the second level of Cogon market.

Fernandez said Degeño and Motarde’s hospital expenses would be shouldered by the firm.