THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Western Visayas Monday, November 13, issued a work stoppage order in the portion of Capitol Central Mall of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) on South Capitol Road, Bacolod City that collapsed and killed two workers last Saturday.
Dole-Negros Occidental head Mary Agnes Capigon said Makati Development Corporation (MDC) and Kuntel Construction, contractor and sub-contractor of the project, have already ordered the work stoppage since Saturday after the incident.
“Dole RD-6 (Western Visayas) Johnson Cañete has issued a work stoppage order because two died in the incident. We immediately dispatched two labor inspectors at the project site and that we are consolidating their reports,” Capigon said.
The victims were identified as Doddy Boy Mallorca, 30, of Manapla town, and Hercalo Abraham, 36, of Purok Magsungay, Barangay Singcang Airport, Bacolod City.
They were killed while reportedly pouring cement after a beam collapsed at 1:45 a.m.
Capigon said the affected workers in the collapsed portion of the building under construction will be paid their daily wage while the work stoppage is in effect, adding that financial assistance should also be given to the victims.
The work stoppage will be in effect until such time that MDC and Kuntel can submit their work plan or procedure for clearing, she added.
A conference is set today to consolidate the reports of Dole labor inspectors and those of MDC and Kuntel to determine when the work stoppage would be lifted.
Capigon said that Kuntel and MDC personnel were also at the project site when the incident happened.
The ALI Capitol Central project includes a four-storey mall and a four-storey office building targeted to open on the first quarter of 2018.