‘Heroic’ worker in Cavite blaze succumbs to severe wounds

- nese-owned factory inside the Cavite Export Processing Zone has claimed the life of a worker who was among the last to leave the inferno to help rescue his trapped colleagues.

Sismaet, died Saturday night as he succumbed to severe third-degree burns.

Philippine Economic Zone Author- ity (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza on Sunday disclosed that Sismaet was one of the line leaders of House Technology Industries (HTI) in General Trias, Cavite.

Sismaet was trained for various tasks during emergencies, the PEZA Sismaet was among the last persons to

come out of the burned building.

“It was a heroic act, and we really appreciate what the late Jerome did. They did their jobs assigned to them as line leaders,” Plaza told The Manila Times.

The Associated Labor Unions (ALU) blamed the government for the death of Sismaet and the injuries sustained by about a hundred other workers.

“The ALU is saddened over the night. His death could have been avoided had the government learned and applied the lessons from the deadly Kentex fire in May 2015 that killed 74 workers. We feel anger that Jerome had to die due to avoidable workplace mishaps like what happened in HTI,” said Alan Tanjusay, ALU spokesperson, on Sunday.

HRD Group of Companies, has promised to give all victims of as educational assistance and jobs to the children of workers.

Plaza said PEZA would also provide assistance to all HTI employees, numbering around 16,000, especially those who were

She said an assessment and evaluation meeting would be determine what really happened and what else could be done to ensure the safety of workers.

Invited to the meeting, she said, under the HRD group of compa - among others.