Senate Committee on Labor chairperson Senator Raffy Tulfo wants cases filed against several business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu that endangered the lives of their employees when a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the province recently.
During the Committee’s recent hearing, Tulfo cited in particular a company that allegedly blocked the emergency exit of its facility to prevent employees from getting out and reaching a safe place, as well as another that forced its workers to immediately return to work after the quake.
“Noong weekend, I went to Cebu para makiramay at magpaabot ng tulong sa mga nasalanta at biktima ng lindol, at nakita ko ang sufferings ng mga kababayan natin doon — may namatay, may nawalan ng bahay, at marami pang iba,” the legislator said.
“Right after the earthquake, hindi pinauwi at sapilitang pagtatrabaho ang kanilang mga empleyado.”
“Uminit ang ulo ko nang malaman ko na may mga kumpanya na right after the earthquake, hindi pinauwi at sapilitang pinagtrabaho ang kanilang mga empleyado. Business is business, wala kaming pakialam. May lindol o wala, tuloy lang ang trabaho. Yung iba naman, hinarangan pa ang emergency exits para hindi makalabas ang mga empleyado nila,” the lawmaker noted.
The senator added, “Gusto kong masampahan ng kaso ang mga kumpanyang ito at ang mga taong sangkot dito, dahil mas inuna pa nila ang kita kaysa sa buhay at kaligtasan ng kanilang mga empleyado.”
In pushing to hold these companies accountable, he cited DOLE Labor Advisory No. 17, Series of 2022, which states that during calamities such as earthquakes and typhoons, companies must prioritize the safety of their workers and cannot penalize those who are unable to report for work due to safety risks.
Tulfo also mentioned Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Department Order No. 252, Series of 2025, which recognizes the right of workers to refuse work without threat or reprisal from employers if an imminent danger exists in the workplace.
“Dapat may katapat na parusa ang mga kumpanyang lumalabag.”
“Anong silbi ng mga advisory na ‘to kung hindi naman natin maipapatupad? Dapat may katapat na parusa ang mga kumpanyang lumalabag sa DOLE Orders at Advisories ninyo,” he said.
Kyle Enero, spokesperson of the BPO Industry Employees’ Network-Cebu, lamented the “business-as-usual” policy of some BPO companies even during natural disasters, saying this is not the first time BPO workers have been treated unfairly.
When asked by Tulfo about the agency’s actions, DOLE Region VII Director Atty. Roy Buenafe said they already investigated and issued work stoppage orders against six Cebu BPO companies including Iploy OPC, Optum Global Solutions, EXL Services, Alorica, Gagfa IT Tower and Teleperformance IT Park Cebu.
Buenafe shared that two of the six companies have already complied with the agency’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) requirements.
The regional office is also set to issue inspection authority to 23 other BPO companies in Cebu with reported OSH and labor violations.
It can be recalled that after visiting Cebu to extend help to affected families, Tulfo filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 149 to ensure protection of employee rights in the BPO sector during calamities and emergencies.
