Villanueva to DOLE: Probe deaths of workers in Makati elevator crash

Sen. Joel Villanueva.(Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva on Saturday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to “fully enforce” the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) and investigate the elevator crash in Makati City that killed two workers.

Manuel Linayao and Rey Miguel Gilera were killed after an elevator in a 38-story building in Makati City crashed before dawn Friday.

READ: 2 killed in elevator crash in Makati

“One accidental but preventable death in the workplace is already far too many,” Villanueva stressed. “Was the elevator subjected to a technical safety inspection by DOLE inspectors? Was the safety protocol in repairing elevators observed? We need an immediate investigation on what is the proximate cause of the accident, and let the full force of the law be applied to show how serious we are in providing our workers with a safe and healthy working environment.”

According to the OSHS Act, a penalty of P100,000 is imposed on those found guilty of “[exposing] workers to death, serious injury or serious illness.”

Villanueva also called on Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma to immediately “convene the almost four years overdue inter-governmental coordination and cooperation mechanism” with the aim of monitoring and augmenting the implementation of the OSHS Act.

Villanueva added that the DOLE’s plans for its first 100 days under Laguesma’s leadership should also include a thorough assessment of businesses’ compliance with the said law.

“The Filipino people need to know how efficiently the law is being implemented for the protection and welfare of our workforce,” Villanueva said.

“We must first ensure that we have faithfully implemented existing labor laws such as the OSHS Act,” Villanueva added.

Villanueva also cited DOLE’s Labor Inspection Report last April 30 which showed that only 64.6 percent of the 25,493 inspected establishments have adhered with the OSHS rules and regulations.

Among the most common violations observed were the non-compliance with the requirements  of having first aid responders, safety officers, and fire safety measures.

“The ongoing pandemic is not the only health hazard going around in our workplace. Negligence and non-compliance to occupational safety and health standards are diseases in our businesses that can easily be cured by prevention and due diligence,” the lawmaker said.

Villanueva, who was reelected to the Senate in the the May polls, is the principal author and sponsor of the Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standard Act.

In 2018, it was signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

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/MUF