DOLE issues work stoppage against contractor

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment yesterday issued a “work stoppage order” against the contractor of the extension building of the Aegis People Support in Asia Town IT Park in barangay Lahug for numerous violations of the safety standards.

Dole-7 regional director Elias Cayanong said the accident last Saturday where two construction workers were injured after a portion of the fourth level had collapsed was due to “unsafe conditions”.

He said that until DCD Construction Inc. cannot resume it operation until it complies with the needed requirements.

“Daghan man ang basic requirements,” he said adding that among the requirements is the safety of the workers.

The two injured masons were Jonathan Arquillano, 41, from Toledo City, and Billy Abarquez, both employees of DCD Construction Inc.

The recent incident was the second construction mishap for the month. The first was in April 7 when a portion of the firewall of the under construction Gaisano Capital Building in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, had also collapsed.

 Five construction workers died of the tragedy while six others were seriously injured. The Office of the Building Official immediately issued an indefinite suspension of the construction activities in those two sites pending investigation.

OBO acting chief Josefa Ylanan said that Section 308 of the National Building Code “requires a project engineer should be present to oversee construction works.”

After the two incidents, Ylanan said she is meeting with the members of the Cebu Contractors Association to ask for their commitments of the safety of their project sites. (FREEMAN NEWS)