Building officials undergo construction safety training

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment-7 has prioritized under its 2015 programs the monitoring of existing construction activities that are booming in Cebu City.

DOLE-7 director Exequiel Sarcauga said the construction industry is being closely followed by no less than President Benigno Aquino III owing to several accidents happening in the country.

“We are also bringing it down to the regional level,” said Sarcauga during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

DOLE-7 is now conducting a five-day construction safety training among building officials in the region sponsored by the Cebu Contractors Association.

Sarcauga said this was the result of the meeting he called for with the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior and Local Government and Professional Regulation Commission on how to connect with each other in so far as coordination and monitoring of the construction industry are concerned.

“We have also been intensifying and continuing our new program on the monitoring of compliance in the general labor standards and of safety standards for the labor laws compliance system,” he said.

Sarcauga stressed that DOLE has changed the approach in this regard, from being used to be a police power to developmental approach, through labor laws compliance system.

Since January this year, DOLE has issued several orders making sure that no construction should go on unless eminent dangers are removed in the construction site.

The state agency also issued work stoppages to make sure safety measures are put in place.

Following the new approach, Sarcauga said they started deploying labor laws compliance officers, with a task not to police any violations, but to “mentor, advice and help” on how establishments comply deficiencies.

With the onset of graduation season in schools, Sarcauga also announced the Special Program for Employment of Students.

He said they have increased their budget from P43 million to P76 million targeting to benefit around 25,000 student this year.

Sarcauga encourages schools to engage the services of the students for them to experience jobs and to be able to continue their studies. — (FREEMAN)