Jamaine Punzalan

Military personnel with a working dog conduct search and rescue operations at a collapsed building in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila on May 25, 2026. Ted Aljibe, AFP

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779681423069AFP__20260525__B3X99ZQ__v1__MidRes__PhilippinesAccident.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Military personnel with a working dog conduct search and rescue operations at a collapsed building in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila on May 25, 2026. Ted Aljibe, AFP </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA —  The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Central Luzon said Monday it had issued a work stoppage order back in September 2025 against the now-collapsed nine-story building in Angeles, Pampanga.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/2-confirmed-dead-18-still-missing-in-pampanga-building-collapse-0735" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pampanga building collapse toll hits four, 16 missing</a></div><p>The DOLE said the work stoppage order was due to multiple work safety violations committed by contractor Golden Years Construction and Steelworks.</p><p>DOLE Region 3 Director Geraldine Panlilio said the office received reports last year that the construction workers were not being provided mandatory benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG coverage.</p><p>According to Panlilio, labor inspectors were allegedly denied entry upon arrival at the construction site. </p><p>“Denied access kami kaya nga agad namin sila pinasara kasi we are looking into the workers&#x27; safety,” Panlilio said.</p><p>Despite the restricted access, DOLE conducted a plain-view inspection and discovered numerous violations of Occupational Safety and Health Standards.</p><p>“Walang safety belt, walang lifeline. Nakita na walang personal protective equipment, walang hard hats, walang mga boots, walang safety officer on site, walang accommodation,” Panlilio added.</p><p>She also cited deficiencies involving the scaffolding and electrical system at the construction site.</p><p>“May problema din sa scaffolding, so pinaayos din namin yun. Yun part ng electrical, mayroon din kami. Nakita, pinaayos din namin ’yon kasi kami naman ang nagbibigay ng electrical permit for the building; the construction, hindi kami ang nagbibigay ng permit per se, pero dapat mayroon silang certificate of electrical inspections din sa amin,” Panlilio said. </p><p>Panlilio said the construction company complied with the required corrections after about a month, prompting DOLE to lift the work stoppage order.</p><p>She also revealed that only 9 construction workers were listed in the company&#x27;s construction safety program at the time.</p><p>Following Sunday’s building collapse, DOLE Region 3 deployed labor inspectors to investigate the condition of the affected construction workers.</p><p>The agency said it would primarily examine the compliance of Golden Years Construction and Steelworks with occupational safety and health standards, particularly those regarding workplace health and safety conditions.</p><p>DOLE will also verify whether the workers were provided with proper employment benefits.</p><p>“Titingnan kung ito ba ay na-enroll na, naging covered na ba ng SSS at saka ng [Employees&#x27; Compensation Commission]?  Because they will be able to avail of the benefits under the SSS and ECC, so kung hindi, doon natin titingnan ano yung magiging responsibilidad ng company ng owner,” Panlilio said.</p><p>DOLE also said it was prepared to provide livelihood assistance programs and emergency employment opportunities for the affected construction workers and their families. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AID FOR WORKERS</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F4519982878285917%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span></strong></div><p>The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for its part, said the government would provide a P10,000 cash aid and a sustainable livelihood package for workers of the collapsed building.</p><p>Aside from around 20 people who were trapped under the rubble, 20 other workers lost their jobs and living quarters after the incident, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said. </p><p>“Yung cash relief assistance… P10,000 yan kaagad so they can buy what they need to buy kasi yung mga gamit nila naipit under the rubble,” he told reporters in a chance interview. </p><p>“Ang plano ng DSWD is sustainable livelihood assistance kasi kung nawala yung breadwinner… we will make sure na yung pamilyang naiwan mayroon silang pagkakakitaan,” he said.</p><p>“On top of that, mayroon din tayong burial assistance at medical assistance, standard operating procedure naman yun ng departamento,” he added. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1697087028241442%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="591" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/2-confirmed-dead-18-still-missing-in-pampanga-building-collapse-0735"> death toll in the collapse rose to four </a>on Monday morning, with 17 people still believed missing, authorities said.</p><p>The nine-story structure gave way Sunday, hitting a nearby hotel. </p><p>The cause of the collapse is not known.</p><p>Officials said up to 70 people were employed at the construction site, though most had gone home for the weekend.</p><p>Regional fire bureau spokeswoman Maria Leah Sajili said that &quot;rescue in (a) building collapse is very challenging since any sudden shift triggered by the movements of our rescuers can cause areas to move and people under can get crushed&quot;.</p><p>Sudden movements &quot;may also bury our responders&quot;, she said, explaining why this phase of the operation had to be done mostly manually.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/5/24/signs-of-life-detected-rescuers-race-to-save-workers-in-collapsed-angeles-city-building-2231">Signs of life detected, rescuers race to save workers in collapsed Angeles City building </a></div><p>Meanwhile, workers who were outside the structure when the incident occurred have been temporarily staying in a health center, the DSWD said.</p><p>“Ang mga workers kasi sa unang tala namin, hindi sila lahat taga Pampanga, may mga taga-San Jose Del Monte, may mga taga-Bulacan,” Gatchalian said.</p><p>“Sisiguraduhin natin na bago sila umuwi sa kanilang mga probinsya ay may financial assistance sila,” he said.</p><p>“Remember, these are worker families. Ang sahod niyan no work, no pay, so ang worry namin ngayon 2 days na tapos until next week hindi yan sumasahod, so the cash assistance is meant to be immediately distributed so that makabuwelo yung pamilya. We don’t want them going hungry.”</p><p>The sustainable livelihood packages range between P15,000 and P20,000, but can go higher should beneficiaries form a group to pitch a business proposal, the DSWD chief said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HrnjV0lBlTg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Central Luzon said Monday it had issued a work stoppage order back in September 2025 against the now-collapsed nine-story building in Angeles, Pampanga.</p>

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Central Luzon said Monday it had issued a work stoppage order back in September 2025 against the now-collapsed nine-story building in Angeles, Pampanga.

Collapsed Pampanga building issued work stoppage order last year over safety violations: DOLE

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Collapsed Pampanga building issued work stoppage order last year over safety violations: DOLE

Dennis Datu,

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse

Published May 25, 2026 11:59 AM PHT

|

Updated May 25, 2026 12:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Pampanga

building collapse

occupational safety

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