Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Tuesday he is not aware of a work stoppage order for the Skyway extension project following Saturday’s accident that left one motorist dead and six others injured.
According to Bello, he is still awaiting the report of other concerned officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which he needs before issuing such an order.
“I was expecting the report yesterday and I am not aware of any order or we call it stoppage order issued by any of my underlings, by our regional director for NCR (National Capital Region) nor of the executive director of the occupational safety and health center,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
“I have no knowledge of any report from them or any recommendation from them much less do I have any information about stoppage order from them,” he added.
Asked categorically if this means that there is currently no work stoppage order for EEI Corp., the contractor of the Skyway extension project, Bello said: “None that I know.”
Bello made this clarification following reports that he had ordered the company to halt all construction work until further notice to give way to a safety inspection.
Reports said the order issued by the DOLE’s National Capital Region office initially covered only the Muntinlupa portion of the project where the accident happened.
The accident was caused by a crane that tipped over as it moved into position, which then hit a steel girder causing it to fall on six vehicles.