The NCR Construction Industry Tripartite Council (NCR-CITC) Symposium held at the Itchikawa Auditorium at the Occupational Safety and Health Center on Monday, 9 December 2017 was hugely successful. The Symposium was focused upon revisiting the Memorandum of Agreement entered into by and between DOLE, DTI (including CIAP, PCAB and CMDF), DILG, DPWH and PRC following the 2011 Eton accident in Makati in that claimed the lives of 10 construction workers and Joint Administrative Order No. 01, series of 2011 issued as a result (the MOA-JAO). The MOA-JAO made a DOLE approved Construction Safety and Health Program (CSHP) prerequisite to the issuance of any Building Permit and a valid PCAB license prerequisite to issuance of Business License to construction contractors by Local Government Units (LGUs).
The Symposium was attended by NCR-CITC members from both Management and Labor sectors, representatives from DOLE-NCR, DTI-NCR, DILG-NCR, DPWH-NCR, PRC and representatives from NCR LGU Building Officials and Business Licence Officials.
Atty. Sarah Buena S. Mirasol, DOLE-NCR Assistant Regional Director delivered the opening address on behalf of Dir. Henry John S. Jalbuena and also presented the 2011 Inter-Agency Regional Level Memorandum of Agreement (DOLE-NCR, DPWH-NCR, DTI-NCR, DILG-NCR, PRC). The Joint Administrative Order No. 01, series of 2011 by and among DOLE, DPWH, DTI, DILG, PRC was presented by the Bureau of Working Conditions. This set the background for the Symposium.
The Keynote Address, “Ease of doing business vs requirement of DOLE approved CSHP before issuance of Building Permit and PCAB license as requirement for construction contractors to secure Business License” was delivered by Engr. Rene Fajardo, Executive Director, CMDF, on behalf of Atty. Ruth B. Castelo, Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Group (CEODBG), DTI. It was emphasized that the requirements under the MOA-JAO does not affect the ease of doing business. During questions he confirmed that Ease of Doing Business should not benefit those doing business in violation of laws and/or regulations.
DOLE-NCR, DPWH-NCR, DTI-NCR, DILG-NCR, PRC presented policy and other updates. DOLE-NCR presented the number of approved CSHPs from January to November 2017. During questions it was revealed that the NCR Building Officials do not provide DOLE with statistics of the number of approved building permits. There is therefore no parameter to check the level of compliance with the CSHP requirement. Similarly, DILG-NCR does not receive data of issuance of Business licences to construction contractors. DPWH-NCR presented safety requirements for road construction and repairs. Many questions were posed on lack of implementation by contractors of the safety requirements.
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