THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) yesterday said most local government units (LGUs) are defying an order not to issue building permits if the owner or contractor failed to submit a safety plan.
The labor department has revived the issue after Citi Hardware site engineer Leo Mabale and foreman Basilio Acebo Jr. confirmed to Director Exequiel Sarcauga in a hearing the other day that the Liloan building official issued them a building permit even though they have no safety plan.
The Citi Hardware construction collapsed last Oct. 14 resulting in the death of three workers and serious injuries of six others.
Engineer Vic Abordo, Dole 7 chief of Technical Services and Support Division-Labor Relations and Standards (TSSD-LRS), said that after seven workers died while constructing Eton Building in Manila years ago, then President Benigno Aquino III ordered five national government agencies to create safety measures in the industry.
Abordo said that Dole, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) signed a joint MOA for the strict implementation of Dole Department Order (DO) No. 13 regarding safety in the workplace.
DPWH is the implementing arm of the National Building Code, while DILG has the power over LGUs.
Memorandum
Abordo said DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson issued a memorandum directing all Office of the Building Officials (OBO) and municipal engineers to refrain from issuing building permits without the applicant’s safety plan.
The safety plan that will be submitted by building owner or contractor must be approved by Dole.
However, Abordo said 80 to 90 percent of the LGUs are still issuing building permits without the required safety plan, resulting in several accidents in the workplace.
Abordo said they are now seeking opinion from DILG if there is a need for the agency (DILG) to issue an order for LGUs to pass municipal or city ordinance to this effect.
On the other hand, Tuburan, Cebu Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante suggested to National Government agencies concerned to capacitate the LGUs instead of passing through DPWH and DOLE every time a person or entity applied for a building permit.
Diamante said that to have a uniform guideline, the matter must be taken up by the national leadership of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP).
Diamante is the president of the LMP-Cebu.
Diamante said that additional red tape in the processing of building permit may result to corruption in the future.