The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) is mourning over the death of six (6) workers of Keppel Subic Shipyard Inc.  We extend our condolences to the families of the deceased workers and express our sympathy to the seven others who sustained injuries due to the incident.

In the Fact Finding Mission (FFM) jointly conducted by the CTUHR, Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines, Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research and Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development, it was found out that at around 10:30am, a loud rumble was heard by the workers following the collapse of 42-ton ramp tower and 235-ton ramp. Five workers were immediately killed and seven others were injured. One of the injured workers died in the night due to a severe head injury.

The dead workers were: Ronald Lara; Mark San Juan; Jhay Lord Reyes; Ronaldo Bagay; Cris Xander Papna and; Glenn Miranda.

Injured workers were: Alvin Penaverde; Albert Recana; Belmore Dela Vega; Wendy Balaba; Berlindo Asinas; Diosdado Moteo and; Elopre Eleazar.

An unconfirmed report says that fourteen other workers died of the incident.

We strongly condemn the company’s neglect of occupational health and safety standards which led to the grueling deaths and serious injury to the abovementioned workers.

In the conducted FFM from Oct 8-9, it appears that a single 42-ton ramp tower was in place to support a 235-ton ramp. A worker shared that commonly, four towers were used to support a ramp. According to another worker, the structure was already unstable night before the incident which the safety officers did not inform the workers about.  Although a safety briefing which lasted for 20 minutes was given to the victims before the incident, it obviously did not salvage them from the collapse of the 42-ton boom because no necessary adjustments were done.

We are also aghast with the company’s withholding of information to the families to inform the families of the victims who had been waiting at the gate of the company more than an hour after the incident. The families should have been immediately informed of what happened and the whereabouts of their loved ones.

It is also with appall that we receive reports that families were already paid with Php 10 000-25 000 for the death of their family members. The company presented the money as their assistance to the workers’ burial. However, it was reported that the families signed a certain document which was not explained to the families in exchange for the measly amount.

The lives and damages inflicted on the victims of the incident is not worth 10-25 thousand. We demand full indemnification for the families of the dead workers.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has also remained mum on the incident when it is within its jurisdiction and obligation to immediately conduct investigation and hold responsible the company’s who has violated the rules on safety standards.

As a result of this horrible accident, we are summoning the Aquino government to immediately and thoroughly investigate this particular accident and bring justice to the victims.

We are also calling on the government to repeal its policies on occupational health and safety (OHS). Currently, DOLE Department Order 57-04 exempts companies with 200 or more workforce from government inspection and allows them to do their self-assessment of their compliance with OHS standards. The Keppel incident, alongside other incidents in Hanjin, Eton among many others that took the lives of many workers, highlights the inadequacy if not wrongness of this self-assessment policy. The government should implement stricter health and safety standards to investors.

This incident is also a reminder to the government to review its economic policy. While foreign investments in the country are important to the economy, it is always the Filipino workers who burden the social costs because of the government’s lax policies. What is the value of the foreign investments then if Filipino workers will keep on dying because the government does not exercise authority to make companies follow safety regulations?

As we seek justice for the death of the Keppel workers, we call on the people to unite with us in our calls for immediate investigation, full indemnification for the families and victims, and repeal of the self-assessment policy on occupational health and safety. We must not allow the same incident to happen again and take more lives of Filipino workers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 October 2011

Reference: Armand Hernando, Documentation Coordinator, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, 0922.8216283

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