CONSTRUCTION activities declined in the second quarter of the year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday, Aug. 16.
The number of approved building permits declined by 14.9 percent to 36,136 from 42,478 in the same quarter last year, PSA date showed.
These permits are equivalent to 7.2 million square meters of floor area valued at P87.82 billion.
“By type of construction, residential buildings still reported the highest number of 24,175 constructions in the second quarter of 2023 or 66.9 percent of the total number of constructions during the quarter,” the PSA said.
This was followed by the non-residential type of construction with 7,928 permits.
“Addition, which refers to any new construction that increases the height or area of an existing building, and alteration and repair of existing structures contributed 4.3 percent and 6.9 percent to the total number of constructions, respectively,” it said.
The PSA said the bulk of the construction activities in the second quarter of the year was recorded in Calabarzon with 9,504 permits.
This was followed by Central Visayas with 4,523 constructions, and Central Luzon with 3,682 permits.
Safety rules
Meanwhile, more than half of close to 100 construction projects inspected in Metro Manila are not compliant with occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Wednesday.
Based on the report of the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), the DOLE said 52 of 95 construction projects it has inspected from Aug. 1 to 15 were found to have violations.
Among the top violations recorded are non-submission or no copy of the Construction Safety and Health Program in the workplace and the absence of or inadequate designated OSH personnel, such as safety officers and first aiders.
Other top violations are non-conduct of mandatory OSH training for all workers, including toolbox meetings; absence of a safety and health committee; and non-issuance of personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers and inadequate or improper use of PPE.
The 20 construction sites that are found to have violations of PPE are advised to implement immediate correction.
Furthermore, an authority to inspect will be issued immediately for a complete inspection of the said sites, while the remaining sites will be continuously monitored by the team.
The DOLE reminded construction sites to strictly comply with OSH standards to ensure safe and healthful working conditions.
It noted that major accidents resulting in disability or death, or major illnesses are likely to occur among high-risk establishments if no preventive or control measures are in place, the guidelines further stated.
Under Department Order No. 198, series of 2018, or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the OSH Law, construction sites are among ‘high-risk establishments’.
These are workplaces where the presence of a hazard or potential hazard may affect the safety and health not only of workers within the company but also of persons outside the establishments’ premises. (PNA)/PN