3 Cebu construction projects ordered stopped

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has stopped the construction of a hospital and two business establishments in Cebu for failing to comply with labor standards and occupational safety regulations.

In a statement released Saturday, DOLE said the orders were sent to the contractors of Chong Hua Hospital on Fuente Osmeña street, the FLB Corporate Centre in Cebu Business Park and a grocery store in Lapu-Lapu City.

“The contractors were ordered to first comply with the safety rules before proceeding with the construction as these pose a danger to workers,” the DOLE said.

The construction of FLB Corporate Centre was ordered stopped after a recent accident at the site left a worker dead and another injured. The DOLE said the workers lacked protective equipment.

The agency said they have lifted the order against FLB last Jan. 9, after its contractors complied with the labor requirement.

Meanwhile, the contractor of the grocery store was found to be working without an approved structural analysis and design of a ladder being used as scaffolding.

Some of their workers also lacked protective equipment and certificates of training, and the site has no safety and health program, DOLE said.

In the case of Chong Hua Hospital, DOLE investigators found out that the contractor was not registered with the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board and had no health and safety policies.