DOLE-7 gets new director

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) has a new regional director.

Lawyer Alvin Villamor, the former regional director of DOLE 4-B (MIMAROPA Region), assumed his post Wednesday morning, April 11, as regional director of the DOLE-7.

He replaced Cyril Ticao, who was transferred to Region 8 in Eastern Visayas on the same capacity.

Meanwhile, DOLE-7 has issued a work stoppage order against a poultry farm construction in Sibago-Lamac, Pinamungajan town, midwest Cebu following a fatal incident, resulting in the death of three workers.

Two welders and the project’s contractor died after the steel bar matting collapsed last April 4.

The stoppage order was received by the poultry farm owner Neil Sajuela.

DOLE-7, in a statement, said it found out during the occupational safety and health investigation that the construction project had no standard operating procedure on excavation works.

It was also found out that workers were allowed to work inside the excavated area without appropriate excavation protection such those as for proper shoring and timbering.

Other violations noted were the absence of DOLE-approved construction safety and health program, DOLE-trained safety officer, safety and health committee, administrative reports on safety and health, construction heavy equipment operator’s certificate, and Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board license.

The operations at the construction site, DOLE-7 said, could not resume unless all noted violations have been rectified. — KBQ (FREEMAN)