The government will proceed with an investigation to establish responsibility of the 210 cars that were flooded by typhoon Hagupit in the case of the public car park at Portas do Cerco (Border Gate). The Traffic Affairs Bureau (DSAT) took the decision yesterday during a working meeting with the owners of the damaged cars.
The car owners, car park management and insurance company haven't reached an agreement forcing the government's intervention to establish who would bear the damage's. Most car owners accuse the concessionaire demanding the operating company to suspend their services. The proposal was made to the government, although for now DSAT will only conduct an investigation.
José Pereira Coutinho from the Public Service Workers Association (ATFPM) attended the three-hour meeting and argued that the responsibility should be given to both concessionaire and the public entity that supervises the concessions from public car parks. He said "the company acted with total negligence since they've not reported to the police or even the firemen what happened".
"They could have done something, but they didn't. I suppose these deficiencies mean there's an enormous gap between the project they've submitted to the government and the facility itself.”
As for the compensation on the damages, the car owners will have to wait for the report to know the outcome.