Rescuers retrieve one of the bodies of two workers who died. Eleven workers were also injured in the incident. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN
THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) is blaming the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the collapse of a building at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City (Metro Manila) that killed two construction workers and injured 11 others on Wednesday.
The Bureau of Fire Protection identified the dead as Ruben Racraquiam and Renato dela Cruz. They were crushed by debris from the collapsed portion of The Suite Hotel, located on 5th Avenue and 28th Street. The hotel is under construction.
Taken to the St. Luke’s Hospital Global City were Sandy Vargas, Jaymar Carberta, Regan Labmutin, Larry Magguray, Wendil Behim, Aldrin Gahuman, Roberto Lorca, Darwin Avara, Bernard Tugade, Jonathan Agoso and Delinger Abara.
DOLE representatives and building inspectors from the Taguig city government are conducting separate investigations to determine liability of the contractors.
But the TUCP said the accident could have been prevented if inspections were conducted regularly before and after construction permits were issued.
“Halatang halata na natutulog sa pansitan ang mga tao tagapag-patupad ng mga batas at alintuntunin sa construction [it was obvious that authorities overseeing building construction were napping],” Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson for TUCP, said.
He added that government officials must ensure that building owners and contractors
are aware of rules and protocols in the construction of high-rise buildings.
Tanjusay said building owners and contractors must also comply with the DOLE Rule 1414 on Scaffoldings of the 1989 Occupational Health and Safety Standards, which put the responsibility of the erection, installation and dismantling of scaffolds to a highly trained competent person called scaffold erector.