No DOLE order yet on work stoppage vs. Skyway extension project, Bello clarifies

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday said there is no formal order yet to stop work in the Skyway extension project after the deadly accident on Saturday involving a steel girder.

Bello made the clarification amid reports of supposed work stoppage to make way for the investigation, as mentioned by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) spokesperson Rolly Francia in a press briefing on Monday.

“Yes,” Bello said in an interview on ANC when asked if he was implying that the reports on the work stoppage are somehow inaccurate.

“As a matter of fact, I am still waiting for the report or the result of the investigation. And on the basis of the report, I will issue order,” he added.

Bello said the report from the concerned regional director and executive director of the Occupational Safety and Health Center of DOLE just reached his office Tuesday morning.

Bello said that he was expecting that the work for the project will continue Tuesday.

Francia earlier said the order issued to the contractor EEI Corp. and its subcontractors came from the DOLE-National Capital Region.

However, Bello said that he will review the recommendations in the report.

On Saturday, one person died and four others were hurt after a steel bar from the ongoing project fell on six vehicles in Muntinlupa City. The accident occurred on East Service Road.

The incident pushed back the completion of the project to February 2021.

San Miguel Corp. president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang also issued a personal apology for the incident and promised to give assistance to the victims.

The extension project was initially scheduled to be completed by December this year, adding two northbound lanes and three southbound lanes. --KBK, GMA News