The Pasay City government on Thursday ordered three private firms to stop building new structures for their failure to comply with the government’s construction safety guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic.
This, after a team from the City Engineering Office led by Johari Rangiris, found the D.L. Cervantes Construction Corp., the Montevista Construction Corp., and the Donor Builders Inc. violated the safety standard set by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Mayor Imelda Rubiano said there would be no let up in their campaign to implement safety guidelines and other health protocols as Metro Manila now under the general community quarantine status.
“We have to make sure that workplaces are safe. We always have to be vigilant so that COVID-19 won’t spread in the city,” she said.
DPWH Order 39 strictly requires all construction companies to secure a construction quarantine pass from the city government before any activity takes place during the enhanced community quarantine.
Engineer Rangiris said the quarantine pass will be issued to those who have provided the name and age of every worker. “The prescribed age of 21 to 59 years old must be followed in every project site,” he said.
The DPWH guidelines also require all construction personnel to undergo quarantine for 14 days prior to deployment.
“The employee may undergo any available Food and Drug Administration – approved COVID-19 test, as may be prescribed by the Department of Health, and be retested as the need arises. In this regard, consultation with medical doctors (duly accredited by DOH, if possible) prior to the conduct of COVID-19 test shall be made,” the department order states.
“Further, COVID-19 test procedures and return-to-work policies of the contractors should comply with DOH Circular No. 2020-0160 dated 31 March 2020, Department Memorandum No. 2020-0220 dated 11 May 2020, and other pertinent issuances of the DOH on the matter.”
Rangiris said they will continue to check all construction projects in the city to comply with the national government’s directive.
The City Engineer’s Office has given the three construction firms three days to comply with the department order.