Owner, contractor of collapsed Pampanga building face P11M in fines

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday announced that it has imposed a P11-million fine on the owner and contractor of the nine-story building in Pampanga that collapsed on May 24.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said an investigation by Dole has found Ernest Jackson Lim and Golden Years Construction and Steel Works Corp. liable to pay a fine of P11,426,798.50 over the collapsed building in Angeles City.

The incident has resulted in 30 deaths, with search, retrieval, and clearing operations still ongoing.

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READ: Death toll in Angeles building collapse rises to 30

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Tolentino explained that the building’s owner and contractor must pay P1,102,798.50 for labor standards violations and P10,324,000 as an administrative fine under Republic Act No. 11058 for willful violations of occupational safety and health standards.

“Despite the existence of a work stoppage order, the workers of Jackson Lim and Golden Years Construction continued working, exposing themselves to danger that could result in death or injury,” said Tolentino.

The labor chief added that Lim and Golden Years also failed to secure a permit to operate the lifter that was used and did not provide personal protective equipment for the workers.

Moreover, Tolentino said the workers were not given temporary accommodation and were not paid their correct wages.

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READ: Seven nonworkers among 28 dead in Angeles building collapse — BFP

He noted that the owner and contractor also submitted fake and invalid certificates for the project’s first-aid personnel and safety officer.

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Because of this, the acting labor secretary said Dole will be endorsing the case to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Angeles City local government “to initiate appropriate criminal actions within the respective jurisdictions.”

Dole will also be initiating administrative proceedings against an official and several labor inspectors assigned at the Central Luzon regional office after the agency found gaps in the implementation of labor laws, added Tolentino.

“Rest assured that Dole will continue to be proactive through the regional offices in implementing labor laws to protect workers,” he said. /das

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