CEBU CITY–The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) has issued an order to stop the ongoing construction of a residential condominium project in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, after a worker died on Wednesday when its retaining wall and steel piles fell on him.
The order was served about 4 p.m. on Thursday by Eng. Ray Martin Codeniera, DOLE-7 labor law compliance officer, at the construction site of Casa Mira Towers along Salvador Extension in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.
The contractor, J.E. Abraham Lee Construction and Development, and developer, AB Soberano International Corp. and Cebu Landmasters Inc. will be called for a mandatory conference to correct the four lapses found by DOLE-7.
In the meantime, the work on the project will have to be suspended, said Exequiel Sarcauga, DOLE-7 director.
Casa Mira Towers is a residential condominium project located on 3,681 square-meter lot in Barangay Labangon. The developer plans to build two towers.
John Eric Llera, 20, was welding a large steel beam along the perimeter of an excavation when the retaining wall collapsed and crushed him to death around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Based on their investigation, Sarcauga said J.E. Abraham Lee Construction and Development committed four serious lapses.
These include the lack of safety and health program for its workers, the victim’s non-coverage of social benefits, absence of certification for equipment operators, and the lack of testing certificate for its backhoe.