Dole imposes P11M in fines over Angeles building collapse

WORKSITE DISASTER Thirty people died in the May 24 collapse of the nine-story building being constructed at Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is imposing a fine of more than P11 million on the owner and contractor of the building that collapsed on May 24 in Angeles City, Pampanga province, and left 30 people dead.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on Wednesday said an investigation had found building owner Ernest Jackson Lim and contractor Golden Years Construction and Steel Works Corp. liable on two grounds: violation of labor standards, and violation of occupational safety and health standards.

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They drew a total fine of P1,102,798.50 for the first violation and P10,324,000 for the second violation, Tolentino said.

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“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,” Tolentino said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay press forum in Manila.

There was no immediate comment from Lim and Golden Years.

READ: Death toll in Angeles building collapse rises to 30

The fatalities of the worksite disaster were mostly construction workers, who were asleep and trapped when the nine-story condominium project collapsed onto a nearby hotel in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, before dawn on May 24. At least 26 other workers were rescued.

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Officials said up to 70 people were employed at the construction site, although most had gone home for the weekend at the time of the collapse.

House probe sought

The Makabayan bloc of lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Tuesday sought an inquiry to look deeper into the incident, as well as to craft legislation criminalizing violations of Republic Act No. 11058, or the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act.

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READ: Collapsed Angeles building also claims lives of vendor couple

“Until now, it is still unclear why the incident happened, and who is responsible or accountable,” ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said on Tuesday.

The labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development backed calls to criminalize violations of RA 11058, noting that at least one worker gets killed in unsafe working conditions.

On May 29, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II formed a task force to investigate the incident, which has highlighted yet again possible gaps in the supervision of construction projects after the issuance of building permits.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government had said it was launching its own probe.

In September 2025, Dole briefly shut the site down over occupational safety standards violations, such as “poor working conditions” that put the workers “at risk,” Dole regional officer Geraldine Panlilio had said.

Work continued

Its workers “lacked safety gear” such as hard hats, boots, safety belts and lifelines and worked under poor lighting and with no visible safety signage, she said.

Dole found out that during the work stoppage from Sept. 27 to Oct. 24, 2025, several crewmen continued to work at the site and were not paid their wages.

Construction resumed a month after the shutdown when the contractor complied with safety requirements.

No protection

At Wednesday’s forum, Tolentino said Lim and Golden Years failed to provide personal protective equipment for the workers and secure a permit to operate the lifter used in the construction of the project, among other violations.

Tolentino added that they also submitted fake and invalid certificates for the project’s designated first-aid personnel and safety officer.

He also said the workers lacked temporary accommodation and were not paid their correct wages. He added that Dole was also looking into reports that they did not receive proper compensation for work rendered on rest days, Saturdays and holidays.

For NBI, local gov’t

Tolentino said Dole would be endorsing the complete case records to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Angeles City local government “to initiate appropriate criminal actions.”

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He added that Dole itself would also be initiating administrative proceedings against an official and several labor inspectors assigned to Dole’s office in Central Luzon regional office over gaps found in the implementation of labor laws. —WITH A REPORT FROM AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE