THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued a cease-and-desist order against Legacy Construction Corp., contractor of the Udalo Bridge in Occidental Mindoro, after a crane collapse left one dead.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DPWH said it has ordered the company to stop its lifting operations following the incident.

Public Works Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon said he has ordered the DPWH-Mimaropa Regional Office to investigate the incident to determine if there was negligence on the contractor’s part.

“[The] DPWH-Mimaropa Regional Office [is tasked] to investigate the incident to determine if it was caused by material fatigue, overloading, or lack of equipment maintenance and if comprehensive safety protocols were implemented,” the agency said.

The DPWH also said that it has ordered the Legacy Construction Corp. to submit an updated third-party heavy equipment certificate, as well as maintenance logs for all cranes on site as part of its equipment audit.

The agency said that the contractor may face penalties if found that it violated occupational safety and health standards. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

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