DOLE stops construction at Rizal power plant

MANILA, Philippines – After finding that it has violated safety regulations, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has stopped the ongoing construction at the SPC Malaya Power Corp. in Pililla, Rizal, where five workers fell to their death.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the DOLE has ordered the power plant to stop the construction until it has properly complied with the regulations.

Based on initial results of the inspection conducted by the DOLE regional office, Baldoz said the power plant failed to submit the required safety plan prior to the start of the construction.

“There is no record of the safety plan approved by DOLE,” she said.

Under an existing agreement with various government agencies, Baldoz said the local government unit must require an individual or a company applying for a building permit to submit a DOLE-approved safety plan.

Baldoz said government agencies reached the agreement to ensure the safety of laborers.

Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Baldoz also noted that the power plant’s contractor, East West Contractors, is also not registered with the DOLE.

Although unregistered, she said the contractor, however, has apparently complied with all general labor standards, including payment of all mandated benefits to its workers.

As of yesterday, Baldoz said she was still waiting for a report containing the “technical details” as to what caused the scaffolding at the power plant to collapse, leaving five laborers dead and 12 others injured last Sunday.

“I don’t have yet the technical evaluation which will show how the accident happened or the real cause of the accident,” she said. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)