Stop hangar project work – DOLE

THE Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE 7) issued yesterday a cease-and-desist order against the hangar project inside the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base (MBEAB), a day after last Sunday’s worksite accident that killed a construction worker.

Ahmed Cuizon, the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) assistant manager, said the work stoppage order won’t have an effect on the ongoing construction of the passenger terminal.

Cuizon told Cebu Daily News in a text message that the completion of the hangar project is not that urgent even for Philippine Air Force (PAF), which is why it was not prioritized.

The Labor department issued the work stoppage  order after it found at least 13 deficiencies or violations under the general labor standards and the occupational safety and health standards.

The violations were listed in the order signed by DOLE 7 Assistant Regional Director Joel Gonzales, which was expected to be served last night (Monday night) to at least 4 offices.

Gonzales said the stoppage order was addressed to Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), the general contractor which is the AV Pamatong/Grandby Joint Ventures, the subcontractor which is the Caffe Engineering and the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base.

“They are ordered to cease and desist from continuing the project until all the deficiencies are addressed or corrected,” said Gonzales.

But Cuizon said yesterday thatr he has not yet received a copy of the stoppage order.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga said he delegated the issuance of the order to the assistant regional director since he’s still in Cagayan de Oro City.

Sarcauga said the issuance of the stoppage order is a standard operating procedure especially if an accident involves a fatality.

The contractor will also be called for a meeting to ensure that safety measures will be in place, and if they comply, that’s the time the order will be lifted.

VIOLATIONS

The 13 violations committed during the implementation of the project were noticed based from the initial investigation conducted by DOLE personnel yesterday morning.

The hangar construction project is part of the replication/relocation of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) facilities that were affected by the construction of the new passenger terminal at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

Under the general labor standards, the deficiencies of Caffe Engineering, the employer of the construc-tion workers involved in the accident, included the non-payment of overtime, non-payment of regular holidays, and non-coverage of Philhealth, Social Security Services (SSS) and Pag-ibig to the workers.

The labor inspectors also found out that there was no contract between the MCIAA/Philippine Air Force and AV Pamatong/Grandby Joint Ventures for the project.

MORE VIOLATIONS

The inspectors also found that under their occupational safety and health standards, the contractors did not have a safety officer during the time of the incident; they had no first aide responders; they failed to present construction and safety health program; they had no accreditation from the Philippine Construction Accreditation Board (PCAB); they had no skills certificate for welders which is a requirement; they had no proof of provision of personal protective equipment which included helmet and harnesses, among others; they had no structural analysis for scaffolding used; and no standard operating procedure on steel trusses installation presented.

Gonzales said these deficiencies will be confirmed during a conference with the contractors to be set by the agency on Wednesday or Thursday.

The result of the conference will determine DOLE-7’s next action.

HANGAR PROJECT

The hangar project, targeted for completion this March 31, is one of the eight structures being replicated inside the Benito Ebuen Air Base.

It is part of the P720 million replication project undertaken by PAF. The hangar is the last structure being built in order to complete the entire replication project.

In the meantime, he said the MCIAA Project Management Office and their contractors will abide by any order by the DOLE.

Cuizon also said that the contractor’s representatives are closely coordinating with the accident victims’ family members.

He said the assistance will include the burial assistance for welder Benjamin Munes, who died in the accident.

He also said that the contractors were also taking care of the needs of injured workers – Celso Gestopa and Romel Omolon.

VICTIM’S FATHER

Meanwhile, Beinvenido Munes, 68, Benjamin’s father, said they won’t sue the contractor because what happened was an accident and it can’t bring their son back to life.

“What we want is that they will provide assistance to the wife and children of Benjamin because his wife doesn’t have a job,” Bienvenido said in Cebuano.

The late Benjamin left behind his wife, Mary Flor, and two kids.

Benjamin’s wake is at their residence in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City. He will be buried next Tuesday at the Lapu-Lapu City Public Cemetery.

Bienvenido also said that he plans to quit construction work citing his old age and the danger posed on the job.