The contractor of the hangar project inside the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base whose workers figured in a serious accident last Sunday committed to institute corrective measures by Friday this week.
Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga of the Department of Labor and Employment said Engr. Bernardo Maralit of AV Pamatong/Grandby Trading Joint Ventures gave his assurance in yesterday’s conference held at their office.
Last Sunday’s accident caused the death of one worker and injured two others.
DOLE issued a cease-and-desist order last Monday, citing 13 deficiencies and violations committed during the construction of the hangar project.
“We told them to correct all the deficiencies and submit the compliance as soon as these are completed,” Sarcauga said.
He said they initially told the contractor represented by Engr. Maralit to submit their compliance on Tuesday next week.
“But they committed to submit it on Friday this week,” Sarcauga said.
The 13 violations found in the hangar project were determined based on their initial inspections.
Four violations under the general labor standards consist of non-payment of overtime premium pay, non-payment of regular holiday pay, non-coverage of Philhealth, SSS and Pag-ibig to workers and no project contract between MCIAA/Philippine Air Force and the AV Pamatong/Grandby Trading Joint Ventures.
The contractor also had no approved construction safety and health program, no standard operating procedure on trusses installation and no standard analysis for scaffolding used in the project site.
There was also no safety officer, no first-aid personnel, no Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) license and no workers’ skill certificate found on welders and scaffolders.
There were also no personal protective equipment for workers and no safety and health committee in violation of occupational safety and health standards, Sarcauga said.
Sarcauga said once the contractor submits their compliance report, he will immediately deploy the labor compliance officer to the project site to check if indeed the contractor corrected the deficiencies.
If the contractor complied with everything, Sarcauga said they will lift the cease-and-desist order on the project.
Sarcauga said he also ordered the contractor to submit its payroll to prove that the workers were paid minimum wage.
Yesterday’s conference was also attended by the representatives of the Philippine Air Force and subcontractor Caffe Engineering.
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