CEBU CITY – Lesson learned.

THE construction site where a laborer fell to his death in Dalaguete, Cebu. (Contributed photo)  

This was how the municipal engineer of Dalaguete, Cebu described the tragic incident in Barangay Maluray where a 21-year-old laborer died fell to his death in a construction site last June 5.

Engineer Expedizitas Lenares said it has always been the Municipal Engineering Office’s (MEO) policy that safety requirements must be observed in construction sites.

“It was a lesson learned for us. We have to be strict with private contractors that they must observe safety requirements,” Lenares said.

The construction of a multi-purpose building in Barangay Maluray was awarded to Power Frame Development Construction.

Construction was temporarily stopped after Jerson Enseñares fell from about 30 feet while installing metal trusses. The laborer died on the spot due to head injuries.

He was not wearing any protective gears such as hard hat or harness during the incident.

Asked who would be liable for the incident, Lenares refused to comment pending the ongoing investigation of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Enseñares’ family has asked the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas to investigate the fatal incident.

“The construction was temporarily suspended because of an ongoing investigation by DOLE. If ever it resumes, there is a need to comply with safety requirements,” Lenares said.

In a separate interview, another worker, Antonio Tangpus, said it was Engineer Ernie Amarado from MEO who assigned him and Enseñares who assigned them to the construction said.

Tangpus said they also received their salary from Amarado.

Lenares clarified that Amarado was not under the municipality but under the private contractor.

He said Enseñares said was not a job-order employee and his dealings with municipal government was project-based.

Lenares said the victim was paid by the private contractor.

She added that Enseñares was formerly assigned to the town’s health unit as a welder before he was endorsed to the private contractor of the construction project in Barangay Maloray.

Lenares said Amarado, and another engineer from MEO, Fernando Armecin, were the project engineers of the construction project.

“The project engineers assigned there to help the barangay captain monitor project since barangay officials doesn’t have the technical know-how when it comes to the specification of materials and engineering plan. The project engineers’ role is not on supervision. Their role is monitoring the delivery, proper mixing of concrete, or if the foundation is proper,” said Lenares.

Lenares said project engineers were also reminded of the enforcement of safety requirements.