Lawmaker urges gov’t to launch construction quality probe

Lawmaker José Pereira Coutinho is urging the government to launch an independent probe into the construction quality of the Seac Pai Van housing estate. He suggested that the government commission an examination of the building complex’s structure to an independent entity, in order to find those accountable for the bad construction quality.
Last month, local media reported that plastic and paper bags were found inside the wall of a Seac Pai Van public housing apartment. Yesterday, TDM English News reported that residents found more plastic bags stuffed inside the walls of their flats at the Koi Nga building. The Koi Nga Mutual Help Association believes that one-third of the flats might share similar problems.
Other Seac Pai Van residents have complained about cracks in the walls and ceilings. However, the government and the Society of Civil and Structural Engineers have dismissed any security risks, TDM English News reported.
Besides a probe launched by Macau’s anti-graft agency (CCAC), José Pereira Coutinho said that only an independent examination of the buildings’ construction quality would shed some light on the matter.
Lawmaker Coutinho requested that the government find those accountable for the shoddy work.
Given all of the efforts to ensure Seac Pai Van’s construction quality, with the government even requesting services from consultancy companies, Coutinho questioned how these buildings remain defective.
He urged the government to reinforce supervision and inspection operations for similar construction in future.
“What kind of effective measures will the government implement to prevent similar cases in the future?” he asked.
Coutinho recalled that he had already questioned the government over Seac Pai Van’s construction flaws back in 2013, when residents first complained about the buildings’ poor construction quality. “Nearly two years ago when these issues related to the quality of construction materials first arose I enquired with the government,” he stressed, adding that he requested the government to order an examination of the buildings’ structure. The lawmaker had also wanted Macau’s administration to commission a study to an independent entity.
The lawmaker said that several months after submitting his written enquiry, the Housing Bureau’s former president replied that, “The government pays great attention to the construction and quality of public housing, and steps up efforts to supervise and ensure [buildings’] construction quality.” He added that the infrastructure department also requested the services of consultancy companies throughout the construction of the Seac Pai Van affordable housing complex. Furthermore, the former Housing Bureau’s president said that quality control services were asked to test construction materials and approve construction works, depending on whether contractors met all requirements.
Last month, a group of proprietors from the Seac Pai Van public housing estate petitioned the Macau government to express their concerns over the buildings’ construction quality. They fear it might end up being “another Sin Fong Garden” case.
The Sin Fong Garden building  in Patane was once believed to be in danger of collapsing, and 141 families were evacuated in 2012.  CP