DOLE issues work stoppage order vs Doc Yappy’s The Icon Clinic

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued on Wednesday, October 7 a work stoppage order against The Icon Clinic owned by Dr. Eric Yapjuanco aka “Doc Yappy”, citing several violations discovered during inspections in May and October.

Labor inspector Bernie Sagad said the clinic did not comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) including Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC).

Sagad said The Icon Clinic also failed to submit OSH reportorial requirement, and the mandatory DOLE administrative reportorial requirement, annual Medical Report (AMR), Annual Work Accident/Illness Exposure Data (AEDR), and Employer’s Work Accident/Illness Report (WAIR) among others.

There is also inadequate safety personnel at the clinic but based on standards, there should be at least two safety officer II in a high risk work place like that of the Icon Clinic but the company has only one, Sagad said.

Atty. Roberto Concepcion, legal counsel of The Icon Clinic meanwhile, questioned DOLE’s basis for its work stoppage order. 

He also said the company was given only 24 hours to comply. But he said he would recommend that client comply but they would like to ask for reconsideration.

“I told my client to comply as this is the mandate of your good office in protecting the public. May I formally ask for the reconsideration of the closure order because at the end of the day, there must be some fair play,” said Concepcion.

The Icon Clinic was given 10 days to submit a memorandum outlining arguments related to the stoppage order. The clinic also expressed commitment to correct issues within 20 days, DOLE said.

According to a representative from the Department of Health (DOH) this type of clinic is called an ambulatory surgical clinic that is given an authority to provide surgical procedures to patients who do not require hospitalization or an overnight stay that is subject to DOH’s licensing and standards or simply an outpatient procedures.

The DOLE-NCR is also directed to submit a comprehensive inspection and compliance report within 5-working days concerning matters affecting The Icon Clinic.

Doc Yappy was not present during DOLE’s inquiry.