Call center in NCCC Mall blaze says probe to show compliance with safety standards

Texas, USA-based Research Now SSI is confident that an impartial investigation into the Davao City mall blaze that killed 37 of its employees would show it has complied with all safety and security requirements.

The company has committed to cooperate with local authorities in the ongoing investigation while assuring workers affected by the incident continue to receive assistance.

“Despite the loss of the facility, the company continues to make payroll for the entire Davao employee population. It also plans to replace any personal items lost in the fire,” Research Now SSI said in statement issued to media outlets Dec. 30, 2017.

The company is now looking for other sites to relocate the Davao operations. Some of the Davao team members will be assigned temporarily to its facility in Cebu.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has revoked the business registration of NCCC and Research Now SSI.

PEZA director general Charito Plaza noted the revocation order applies only to the call center’s Davao City operations and does not encompass the operations of Research Now SSI in Mactan 2 Ecozone in Cebu, which passed the PEZA fire safety inspection and complied with other requirements, according to the PEZA chief.

“In addition, Research Now SSI continues to provide the Davao employees with grief counseling and to helping the victims’ families with both financial and counseling support,” it said.

Fire broke out at a furniture and fabric store on the third level of New City Commercial Center (NCCC) on December 23, which engulfed the entire mall including the Research Now SSI office.

The only one among the 38 killed in the blaze who didn’t work for the company was a security officer of NCCC.

Research Now SSI has raised over $90,000 for the families of the victims.

“While money can in no way replace their loved ones, these funds, along with financial support already committed to by the company, will help provide for the families,” it said.

Five fire officials have been relieved of their duties.

Superintendent Jerry Candido, spokesperson of the inter-agency Anti-Arson Task Force, said initial findings of the probe found “some liabilities” on the respective parts of SSI office fire safety inspector Leo Lauzon, NCCC Mall fire safety inspector Joel Quizmundo, fire station safety section chief Roger Dumag, and fire station commander Renero Jimenez.

Davao City fire marshal and spokeswoman of the Bureau of Fire Protection Honee Fritz Alagano has also been relieved of her command.

Initial evidence from the ongoing investigation indicated the sprinkler systems on the 3rd and 4th floors of the building did not work because the valves were closed, a Reuters report noted.

Due to her business relationship with Choice Mart, a company owned by NCCC, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has said she would not be part of any investigating team probing into the incident. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/VDS, GMA News