The Department of Labor and Employment on Tuesday partially lifted the Supplemental Work Stoppage Order issued by the DOLE NCR stopping the construction activity in the entire Skyway Extension Project Sucat Alabang Viaduct.
The order signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the department recognizes the utmost national importance underlying the said skyway extension project.
"Equally acknowledged is the fact that the suspension of said project the unaffected areas will cause prejudice to the employees assigned/deployed thereat whose livelihood heavily depends on the said project's continued operation," read the order.
It also cited the November 23 letter of EEI Corporation which manifests that the incident is an isolated case and that the company has strict safety protocols in place.
It said EEI also maintains that it is conducting a full risk assessment and mitigation in order to determine the exact cause of the incident.
"Further, EEl submits that considering the progress of the on-going works, immediate stoppage of all works in the entire Skyway Extension Project would present further risk and additional peril on the works," read the order.
"Wherefore premises considered, the Supplemental Work Stoppage Order dated November 23, 2020 is hereby partially lifted, without prejudice to the result of the November 24 hearing," it further read.
However, the labor department said that the first Work Stoppage Order issued by the DOLE NCR on November 23 stopping the construction activity in the affected area of the construction site of the said project shall remain.
"Accordingly, the EEI Corporation/Skyway Extension Project and/or Mr. Jose Q. Ilagan and those involved sub-contractors, if any, are directed to immediately stop the construction activity in the affected area of the construction site of the said project," read the order.
The work stoppage order was issued in relation to the accident that occurred on November 21, 2020 at the north-bound Skyway Extension Project in Muntinlupa City.
A crane used in the Skyway Extension Project in Muntinlupa City tilted and fell, leaving one person dead and at least six others injured.