DOLE stops demolition of Malate hotel after deadly collapse
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment ordered the stoppage of demolition works of a hotel in Malate, Manila following the death of two construction workers.
Labor Asec. Benjo Benavidez on Wednesday said the stoppage order was issued to Golden Breeze Realty Inc., Fabellon Construction and Development Corporation and involved sub-contractors.
Further demolition works may pose imminent danger to the workers, Benavidez said.
Two construction workers died after they were pinned under the rubble of the hotel that collapsed Tuesday morning. The fatalities were identified as Melo Ison and Jerome Fabello.
Ison’s brother, Edson, was injured after he jumped from the building.
The hotel has been up for demolition since August.
Violations
The DOLE official said there were no trained safety officer and no certified first aider at the time of the incident.
“The requirement of having a safety and health personnel starts from the beginning of the work up to the end of the demolition,” Benavidez said.
He added that labor inspectors have found deficiencies due to the expired construction and health, and occupational safety and health programs, unavailability of a safety and health committee and lack of employers work accident or illness exposure data report.
There were also infractions of general labor standards such as non-presentation of payrolls, proof of remittances with the Social Security System, Philhealth and Pag-ibig and other benefits.
The site had an approved Construction and Health Program that covered work until September 22—one day before the collapse happened. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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