Regions Briefs: July 2, 2019

Iloilo store shut down after worker’s death

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has issued a work stoppage order against a store here where a worker died after he got stuck in a food mixer.

In an order on June 24, Cyril Ticao, the Dole Western Visayas director, ordered Akhira Allan’s Store to immediately stop its activities “until an imminent danger is abated.”

Imminent danger refers to a condition or situation in a workplace that could lead to death or serious physical harm, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act.

The order cited the death of Jomar Junco on June 22 and the failure of the establishment to report the incident to the agency within 24 hours.

A fellow worker found Junco, a newly hired employee, with his legs sticking out of the mixer at the store in La Paz district. —Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

Single-use plastic banned in BARMM gov’t offices

COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao, Philippines — The chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has ordered a ban on single-use plastic in all government offices in the region.

Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim directed the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy to impose the ban on plastic bags, straws, cups, plates, utensils and polystyrene (such as Styrofoam) containers and similar items.

“Caterers are also advised to place food in containers either made of paper, plant-based wrappers or reusable plastic containers,” Ebrahim said. —Edwin O. Fernandez