DOLE suspends operations of Ayala-led water consortium after employee falls into treatment plant

The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) issued a work stoppage order (WSO) against Cebu-Manila Water Development Inc. (CMWDI) in Carmen, Cebu following the work-related death of a personnel last April 30.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Alvin Villamor said Thursday the WSO was served to CMWDI on Wednesday.

CMWDI is a joint veture between the Ayala-led Manila Water Company Inc., Manila Water Consortium (MWC) and the provincial government of Cebu.

“We don’t want the possible recurrence of the accident, so we made sure to serve the work stoppage order immediately after conducting thorough investigation,” Villamor said.

Last April 30, CMWDI employee Renato Peroso fell into the treatment’s plant lagoon as the facility has no guard railings to prevent anybody from falling.

Furthermore, a part of Peroso’s right foot was left inside the submersible water pump when he was pulled out from the lagoon by rescuing co-workers.

“This is a very unfortunate event. Obviously, there were no guard rails installed on all sides of the lagoon. That facility could have prevented Peroso from falling,” said Villamor.

The DOLE-7’s Occupational Safety and Health Investigation (OSHI) also found out that CMWDI has no Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) when cleaning the lagoon area with submersible water pumps running.

Other noted violations by CMWDI under the Occupational Safety and Health Standards include the following: (1) No Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH)-trained safety officer; (2) No Philippine Red Cross-certified first aider; (3) No Rule 1020 registration; (4) No Safety and Health Committee; (5) No policies on Anti-Sexual Harassment, Drug-free Workplace, Hepa B, HIV-AIDS, and Tuberculosis Prevention and Control; (5) No Fire Safety Inspection Certificate; and (6) No emergency medicine available.

Director Villamor pointed out that these violations demonstrated the management’s laxity in implementing the Occupational Safety and Health Standards within the work premises, which certainly exposed workers to imminent danger.

The CMWDI is part of Carmen town’s bulk water supply project that services several households in Central and Northern Cebu with MCWD as the distributor.

“In as much as we don’t want to cause any inconvenience among the clients of said establishment, we also need them to follow what labor laws require, especially on the aspect of safety. We just hope that they would be able to rectify noted violations immediately and of course, support the victim for his hospital needs,” the DOLE-7 director said.

The DOLE-7 will be coordinating with the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC-REU 7), one of the department’s attached agencies, for the possible assistance that could be extended to the victim.
Meanwhile, representatives of CMWDI appeared at the DOLE Regional Office on Thursday for a mandatory conference with Villamor. (PNA)