ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — The contractor and owner linked to the devastating collapse of a nine-story building in Angeles City are facing ₱11.49 million in unpaid workers’ benefits and occupational safety and health fines, after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) upheld their liability in a resolution issued this month.
The decision comes months after the tragedy that claimed at least 30 lives, turning the construction disaster into one of the country’s most serious workplace tragedies in recent years.
According to DOLE, Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corporation and Ernest Jackson Lim are liable for a total of ₱11.49 million. The amount includes ₱1.17 million in unpaid wages and other worker benefits, as well as ₱10.32 million in administrative fines for occupational safety and health violations.
Workers’ Benefits Increased After Review
DOLE’s resolution, signed by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on August 17, 2026, modified an earlier June order after affected workers sought reconsideration.
The department said the workers’ monetary award increased after their claims for rest-day premiums and unpaid wages during the implementation of a Work Stoppage Order were recognized. The benefits also cover wage underpayments and unpaid holiday pay.
The respondents were ordered to settle the monetary award and administrative fines within 10 days of receiving the resolution, according to DOLE.
Serious Safety Violations Found Before the Collapse
The latest ruling also reaffirmed more than ₱10 million in penalties for occupational safety and health violations.
DOLE said its review found multiple serious deficiencies at the project, including failures involving personal protective equipment, permits for mechanical lifting equipment, required safety officers and first aiders, and temporary accommodation for workers. The department also cited the submission of fake or invalid certificates connected to the project’s designated safety personnel.
The labor department said the findings pointed to persistent and willful non-compliance with workplace safety standards despite prior enforcement action and notice of the deficiencies.
Earlier reports on the investigation also indicated that construction work continued despite a DOLE-issued Work Stoppage Order, while workers were exposed to conditions the agency considered dangerous.
A Tragedy That Sparked Demands for Accountability
The building under construction in Angeles City collapsed on May 24, 2026, triggering a massive rescue and retrieval operation. The disaster ultimately left at least 30 people dead, with several others injured, according to reports from Philippine media and government agencies.
The case has also placed a spotlight on broader questions surrounding construction safety and the enforcement of labor regulations. DOLE previously acknowledged gaps in the implementation of labor laws and said administrative proceedings involving an official and certain labor inspectors in DOLE Region III would continue.
More Than a Fine—A Warning to the Construction Industry
For families who lost loved ones and workers affected by the disaster, the ₱11.49-million ruling represents a major regulatory step. But the scale of the tragedy has raised a larger and more difficult question: Could stronger enforcement have prevented the deaths?
DOLE has stressed that compliance with occupational safety and health standards is not optional or temporary, but a continuing legal obligation for employers. As investigations and accountability efforts continue, the Angeles City collapse remains a stark reminder that ignored safety violations can carry consequences far beyond financial penalties.
The ₱11.49 million ruling may have settled part of the labor case—but for the families left behind, the search for full accountability is far from over.
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