The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is providing immediate financial aid to the victims and their families following the tragic collapse of a condotel under construction in Angeles City, Pampanga. In a statement, DOLE said the Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC) will provide Employees' Compensation (EC) cash assistance and benefits to qualified victims and beneficiaries affected by the tragedy.
ECC Assistance Details
The ECC will provide P15,000 in immediate cash assistance to the beneficiaries of qualified deceased workers, along with a funeral benefit of P30,000. All qualified injured workers may receive P10,000 cash assistance under the EC Program, as well as a disability benefit.
"ECC is committed to extending immediate assistance and ensuring access to available benefits and support services following the incident," DOLE said.
The Collapse Incident
Last Sunday, May 24, 2026, the nine-story condotel building being constructed in Angeles City collapsed. As of the latest, five people are confirmed dead, 15 are still missing, while 26 have been rescued.
Calls for Accountability
Given the number of casualties, the Partido Manggagawa (PM) is demanding accountability. In a statement, PM said the tragedy calls for justice due to alleged negligence from both employers and the government.
"We condemn the tragedy of the collapse of a building under construction in Pampanga," PM said. "It is clear that the owner, contractor, DOLE, and even the local government are responsible because this is a clear failure, apart from neglect, in occupational health and safety (OSH) standards that should be implemented in all workplaces, especially construction sites."
The labor group noted that DOLE and the local government have the foremost responsibility in ensuring compliance with OSH standards. "But if both are sleeping at work, the workers' fate is always at stake," PM added.
Preventive Suspension
Earlier, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino slapped a preventive suspension against DOLE-Central Luzon Director Geraldine Panlilio following the tragedy, after reports that the construction project was previously found to be non-compliant with OSH standards.
