Fire safety inspections in NCR done by next week —DILG

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will finish inspecting next week 300,000 business establishments in Metro Manila, as instructed by President Benigno Aquino III.

 

In a text message, Peter Irving Corvera, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) undersecretary of public safety, said the BFP is already halfway through these inspections.

 

“The BFP conducted intensive inspections based on a simplified but thorough protocol and checklist for the past two weeks and have inspected almost half of such subject establishments,” Corvera said.

 

He added that more “intensive” fire inspections will be conducted nationwide once the BFP has fully complied with Aquino’s directive.

 

“The BFP expects to complete such inspections by next week, after which the intensive inspections will be implemented in the rest of the country,” Corvera said.

 

“The purpose of such inspections is primarily to ensure compliance by all establishments with the Fire Code to avoid a repeat of the Kentex incident,” he added, referring to the deadly fire in Valenzuela last May 14 that killed over 70 people.

 

Earlier this month, Aquino ordered the BFP to inspect business establishments in the Philippines’ capital region, after an initial probe showed that the razed Kentex Manufacturing Corp. factory in Valenzuela did not follow fire safety guidelines set by law.

 

The President also pledged to file charges against those responsible for the Kentex factory fire, including Valenzuela local government officials.

 

Bereaved family members and survivors of the factory fire have since filed a letter-complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman seeking a probe on DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and BFP officials. —KG, GMA News