QC gov't says 70 construction sites violated COVID-19 health protocols

Through a surprise inspection, the Quezon City government on Tuesday found that 70 construction projects in the city have violated health and safety protocols for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

City building official Mark Perral said that most of the violations include the absence of designated safety officers as well as missing personal records and health reports of personnel.

The surprise inspection also revealed that seven of the projects have recorded COVID-19 cases.

“We have issued Cease and Desist Orders for the immediate stoppage of construction activities of these non-compliant projects,” Perral said in a statement.

Perral said that the construction projects will be allowed to resume operations after their 14-day quarantine period.

“We will allow them to resume with their on-site construction activities as soon as they have completed the 14-day quarantine protocol and passed the city’s assessments,” he said.

According to Perral, the violators were charged with administrative fines and other applicable penalties.

The construction sites violated Department of Public Works and Highways Department Order no. 39 and the safe workplace guidelines of the Department of Labor and Employment as well as the joint memorandum of the Department of Building Official and the City Engineering Department of Joint Memorandum.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte appealed for public cooperation.

“We understand that granting workers medical leave to isolate have significant economic costs, but so would major outbreaks. We appeal to everyone to cooperate in stopping COVID-19 transmission in the city,” Belmonte said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News