ANGELES CITY – A motion for reconsideration has been filed by the owner of the collapsed building here with the Department of Labor and Employment, noting that the agency erred in its order for him to pay unpaid wages and administrative fines amounting to P11,426,798.50.
On June 16, 2026, DOLE directed building owner Jackson Lim, and the contractor, Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corp., to pay unpaid wages amounting to P1,102,798.50 to 57 construction workers affected by the work stoppage from Sept. 27, 2025 up to Oct. 24, 2025.
The respondents were also directed to pay administrative fines amounting to P10,324,000 for violations of Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
This, despite the fact that DOLE Region 3 director Geraldine M. Panlilio issued a resolution on Oct. 24, 2025, stating the contractor had already corrected the violations.
In the DOLE Resolution, Panlilio noted the Golden Years introduced corrective actions such as the provision of personal protective equipment, safety belts, lifelines for work on height, safety nets surrounding the construction site, erection of appropriate scaffolds, reconditioning of construction materials, observance of good housekeeping, installation of safety signages, provision of hygienic temporary accommodation and welfare facilities, payment of administrative fine of P100,000, and payment of P275,000 representing 13th month pay for year 2023 and 2024, incentive leave pay to 12 affected workers, and payment of P128,700 representing salaries of 13 affected workers during the work stoppage.
DOLE Region 3 lifted the work stoppage on Oct. 24, 2025, after “confirming all documentary evidence of compliance and corrective actions taken by Golden Years Construction and Steel Corp., and considering that the establishment complied with the conditions set forth for the removal of imminent danger.”
Atty. Willy Rivera, counsel for the building owner, said he was hoping his client will be given “due process,”
Rivera said the respondent “was never informed of the specific charges against him, was never furnished the evidence relied upon in the DOLE Order, and was never afforded a meaningful opportunity to submit an answer, position paper, or controverting evidence.”
Rivera also said there is no employer-employee relationship between his client and the affected workers because they were hired by the contractor. He said the DOLE Order “failed to disclose any competent evidence establishing entitlement to the alleged wages, holiday pay, and rest day premiums awarded therein.”
He urged DOLE to “reconsider, set aside, or vacate” its order directing his client to pay unpaid wages and administrative fines. Press release