The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered the developer and contractor of a collapsed building in Angeles City, Pampanga, to pay more than ₱11.7 million in administrative penalties and unpaid labor claims following a comprehensive probe into the fatal incident.
Acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced on Wednesday that building owner Jackson Lim and contractor Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corp. were found accountable for severe regulatory lapses.
The monetary penalty includes roughly ₱1.4 million in back wages and benefits, alongside ₱10.3 million in administrative fines under the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Law (Republic Act No. 11058).
According to the DOLE investigation, construction activities persisted despite a previously issued work stoppage order, a defiance that the department said directly endangered employee lives.
Investigators also documented extensive labor standards violations, including general wage underpayment and the non-payment of holiday, weekend, and rest day premiums.
Critical safety failures were also uncovered at the site, such as a lack of mandatory personal protective equipment, missing permits for heavy mechanical lifting gear, and substandard worker housing.
Additionally, the contractor was found to have misrepresented its safety credentials.
“They also submitted fake and invalid certificates for the project’s first aider and safety officer,” Tolentino stated.
To enforce legal accountability, DOLE is forwarding the case to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Angeles City local government unit for potential criminal prosecution.
The agency also addressed its own oversight shortfalls, confirming that administrative actions are underway against specific personnel within DOLE Regional Office III.
“DOLE found gaps in the implementation of labor laws. Hence, we will continue with the administrative proceedings against an official and certain labor inspectors of DOLE Regional Office III,” Tolentino said.
Following the disaster, Secretary Tolentino pledged to implement more rigorous enforcement and site monitoring protocols nationwide to avert future construction accidents.
He also noted that the families of the victims are eligible for funeral and financial assistance from the Employees’ Compensation Commission, subject to the validation of their Social Security System records.