TUCP: Warehouse owner, contractor liable for Bulacan mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)-Nagkaisa on Tuesday called on the government to hold the building owner and the project contractor liable for the death of 12 construction workers and the injury of several others when a wall collapsed on them Monday afternoon in Bulacan.

"Both the project owner and the project contractor are both liable for the deaths of the victims. This accident can be prevented, if not minimized, if these two are faithfully performing their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the occupational safety and health regulations and standards.

"There must be some kind of negligence on the safety regulations and standards that lead to the deaths and so they must be made answerable," Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP, said.

Seno said that by now, he expects the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office is conducting a probe on the incident after ceasing work at the project site to prevent.

Government regulation requires project owners and contractors in all types of constructions work to have a construction safety and health program, ensure all workers have personal protective equipment, project safety personnel, emergency occupational health personnel and facilities, construction safety signages, construction safety and health committee, and workers' welfare facilities.

Seno noted that a separate charge must be slapped if the project owner and contractor also fail to comply with their obligations to pay the lawful regional wage including social protection benefits such as Social Security System, PhilHealth, Pag-ibig.

There is also a need for DOLE if the city or municipal engineer office inspected the project site for compliance on workplace safety standards before issuing the building permit and respond to reports the materials used are of poor quality, Seno said. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com) |

Wall collapses in Bulacan; 11 dead

GUIGUINTO, Bulacan (Updated) – Eleven people were killed and four others were seriously injured when a wall of a warehouse building along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Ilang-Ilang collapsed.

Bulacan Police chief Ferdinand Divina identified the fatalities as Nestor Maiton, Jonathan Sagayap, Cinto Nayanga, Rodolfo Nayanga, Jerald Nayanga, Joseph Bellones, Arnel Cardaño, Agnes Tan-Santos and Arnold Humawan all workers on the site and two minors.

Television and radio reports said the incident took place around 3:30 p.m. when a wall of a warehouse owned by certain Dante Chua collapsed, pinning down the barracks of the workers.

The victims were immediately brought to the nearest hospital.

Guiguinto municipal administrator Edilberto Cruz said they were looking at three factors which may have caused the incident.

"First is mukhang substandard ang mga ginamit na materyales sa pagtayo nung building tapos we experienced earthquake here two weeks ago and during the past two days maulan so may tendency na lumambot ang lupa," the official said.



Reports have it that the steel bars used in the collapsed wall were substandard.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), for its part, sees negligence on the part of the owner and contractor.

“There must be some kind of negligence on the safety regulations and standards that led to the deaths,” TUCP executive vice president Gerard Seno.

He said government regulation requires project owners and contractors in all types of constructions work to have a construction safety and health program, ensure all workers have personal protective equipment, project safety personnel, emergency occupational health personnel and facilities, construction safety signages, construction safety and health committee and workers’ welfare facilities.

“This accident can be prevented, if not minimized, if these two are faithfully performing their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the occupational safety and health regulations and standards,” said Seno.

Cruz said the owner of the building identified as Dante Chua was "nowhere to be found."(with PNA/HDT/Sunnex- By Third Anne Peralta/ SunStar

Labor group blames Cebu Pac job scheme

A labor group blamed job contracting for Cebu Pacific Air’s 20 flight cancellations and 288 delayed flights in Manila from Dec. 24 to 26 last year even as the company said legal options are being weighed following the decision of the Civil Aeronautics Board to impose a P52-million fine.

“We have received CAB Resolution No. 4 (BM 01-01-12-2015), and are currently in the process of reviewing the document, and its attendant legal ramifications,” the firm said in a statement on Wednesday. “We note that there may be some matters of fact requiring clarification, and are evaluating all our options.”

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Associated Labor Unions blamed outsourcing and hiring of contractual workers for the breakdown of Cebu Pacific’s service.

“The damage could have been greatly minimized--financially and reliability--if the situation was handled and managed by regular workers,” Gerard Seno, TUCP-ALU executive vice president, said in a statement.

“There is a big difference between the quality of work rendered by a regular worker than an outsourced and contractual one.”

The CAB made its ruling after Monday’s hearing attended by Cebu Pacific representatives, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 manager Octavio Lina, and Manila International Airport assistant general manager Ricardo Medalla.

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla was quoted as saying that the fine would to national treasury despite clamor from displaced passengers to be compensated.

He said the Passenger Bill of Rights stated as recourse only rebooking, reimbursement and endorsement to another carrier.

According to Arcilla, the airline firm has cited air traffic congestion and terminal infrastructure deficiencies as contributory factors.

“The board therefore issued a strong reprimand and imposed a fine against Cebu Pacific in the amount of P52.110 million,” he said.

The board also required Cebu Pacific to establish and maintain appropriate service standards for all employees, organic and outsourced, especially in manning the check-in counters.

“The fine is based on the finding by the board that Cebu Pacific’s operational lapses and passenger manhandling constitute a breach of the basic condition of its certificate of public convenience and necessity, i.e. to provide proper, suitable, convenient, safe, adequate and reliable air transportation services,” Arcilla said. - By Alena Mae S. Flores, Vito Barcelo - Manila Statndard Today

Guide Philippine leaders to govern responsibly, Pope urged

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Wednesday appealed to Pope Francis to inspire government leaders to act responsibly in distributing the nation's wealth to all Filipinos.

TUCP- Associated Labor Unions Executive Vice President Gerard Seno said the Pope's visit to the Philippines will be a rare opportunity to reinvigorate the lives of the of the millions of Filipino workers.

"They are very eager to hear his voice and be renewed and empowered by the message of God. They need validation, meaning and purpose in the scheme of things," Seno said.

Seno also said workers expect Pope Francis to provide wisdom and guidance to Filipino politicians and government executives to govern effectively.

"Working people want to tell the Pope to share words of wisdom and guidance to elected and appointed government officials to give their highest best in carrying out their mandate to serve the public. They see Pope Francis as the right, the highest and the holiest person to inspire our leaders to lead in front in realizing the equitable sharing of the wealth of the nation," he said.

Pope Francis is set to arrive tomorrow, Jan. 15., for a five-day visit to the country. One of the main purpose of his trip is to see the condition of supertyphoon Yolanda survivors in Eastern Visayas. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)