The strength and safety of any building largely depend on contractors, who are responsible for turning construction plans into actual structures, according to industry experts.
Occupational safety and health specialist Choi Cruz said contractors carry the biggest responsibility when it comes to the physical construction of a project.
“Structural integrity does not rely solely on the contractor, though they bear the heaviest burden for physical execution,” said Cruz, a consultant on occupational safety and health for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
He explained that contractors have a major influence on a building’s quality through proper execution of work, workmanship, and supervision of subcontractors.
“The contractor is responsible for turning paper concepts into physical reality, ensuring concrete is mixed, poured, and cured correctly, and managing specialized trades (plumbers, electricians) to avoid structural damage during installation,” he explained.
While contractors oversee the actual construction, architects and engineers are also responsible for setting the design standards, structural requirements, and safety measures that contractors must follow.
Cruz added that making sure the right construction materials are used involves several levels of oversight.
He said that “ensuring the correct materials are used is a shared, multi-tiered process of checks and balances.” However, he noted that the contractor has the primary responsibility, while engineers provide an additional layer of verification.
According to Cruz, contractors are also mainly responsible for managing workers, ensuring their welfare, and enforcing compliance with building regulations and labor safety standards.
“The contractor is legally and operationally primary in-charge of workforce management and site safety,” he pointed out.
“When an owner hires a general contractor, they typically pass site control to them via contract. The contractor is legally responsible for Labor Rules, Site Safety, and Building Code Execution,” he added.
Cruz also stressed that property owners are generally not liable for structural issues unless they directly interfere with technical decisions that affect a project’s safety.
“Owners are generally protected from structural liability if they hire licensed professionals (architects, engineers, contractors) and do not interfere with their technical decisions because the owner is not an expert but a client seeking a quality service,” he emphasized.
Architect Josua Cruz echoed the importance of proper construction practices, saying that “design takes equal responsibility as the execution.”
He added that contractors and project management teams carry much of the responsibility for ensuring quality workmanship and the proper use of construction materials.
The experts shared their views following the collapse of a building in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, on May 24, which resulted in six fatalities.
As of May 30, search, rescue, retrieval, and clearing operations were still ongoing at the site.
Authorities identified Golden Years Construction and Steelworks as the project’s contractor, while Ernest Jackson Lim was named as the property owner.
National and local government agencies have launched separate investigations to determine the cause of the incident and identify any possible violations.