The owner of the collapsed under-construction building in Barangay Balibago has filed a motion for reconsideration before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), challenging an order requiring him to pay more than P11.4 million in unpaid wages and administrative fines.

In its June 16, 2026 order, DOLE directed building owner Jackson Lim and contractor Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corporation to pay P1.1 million in unpaid wages to 57 construction workers affected by the work stoppage from Sept. 27 to Oct. 24, 2025. The agency also imposed P10.324 million in administrative fines for alleged violations of Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

Through counsel Willy Rivera, Lim argued that the order should be reconsidered, claiming he was denied due process as he was not informed of the specific charges, was not furnished the evidence used by DOLE, and was not given the opportunity to respond.

Rivera also maintained that no employer-employee relationship existed between Lim and the affected workers, saying they were employed by the contractor. He further questioned the basis for the award of unpaid wages and other benefits.

The motion also cited a previous DOLE Region III resolution dated Oct. 24, 2025, which lifted the work stoppage after the contractor reportedly complied with corrective safety measures and labor-related requirements.

Lim’s legal counsel urged DOLE to set aside or vacate its June 16 order while the motion for reconsideration is under review.