ILOILO City – Are construction sites here safe? Do building contractors follow safety protocols?
The city government’s Office of the Building Official (OBO) admitted having a hard time monitoring all construction sites to make sure they meet construction safety standards.
According to Engr. Cloy Grecia, OBO building inspector, they are understaffed.
The City Engineer’s Office (CEO) lacks personnel, said Grecia.
OBO is under the CEO.
In other cities, said Grecia, the OBO – whose primary function is to ensure that the National Building Code is followed – is a separate office.
“We appeal to all contractors, especially of high-rise buildings, and owners of construction sites to follow safe protocols. They must have safety officers to ensure this,” said Grecia.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III himself reminded investors of safety measures to avoid accidents particularly in the construction of buildings, citing a recent incident in Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district.
The contractor of a new building in Barangay Bolilao where a young man lost a foot in a freak Black Saturday accident violated occupational safety and health standards, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
According to DOLE, there was no approved safety and health program and no assigned nurse there.
DOLE also said it had asked to see the contractor’s Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board License.
On March 31, a part of a construction equipment being used on the building fell on a 16-year-old lad below. He lost his right foot.
After two weeks, or on April 14, a glass panel from the same building crashed into two passing vehicles./PN
