BFP revokes fire safety certificate of QC orphanage

The Bureau of Fire Protection revoked the fire safety inspection certificate (FSIC) of the Gentle Hands Inc. (GHI) orphanage in Quezon City after it allegedly violated the provisions of the Fire Code.

“GHI was found to have violated pertinent provisions of the revised implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines during said inspection resulting to the revocation of its FSIC,” Senior Superintendent Aristotle Banaga, acting Quezon City district marshal, said.

Banaga said the BFP has the right to revoke any permit issued to building establishments or business offices that were “found to have imperiled public safety.”

“Our office is strictly monitoring for compliance and corrections of the defects and deficiencies stipulated in the Notice to Comply (NTC), which we have immediately issued after the conduct of the said fire safety inspection,” he added.

GMA News Online sought comment from the orphanage but it has yet to reply as of this posting.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) earlier issued a cease and desist order against the orphanage for various reasons, including overcapacity and hygiene concerns.

The DSWD has given Gentle Hands 20 days to answer the issues that the agency has raised against them.

The department also said it is willing to return the children to the care of the orphanage if it complies with the guidelines and addresses its alleged violations.

In an Unang Balita report by GMA Integrated News' Nico Waje, the orphanage's executive director, Charity Graff, said they were not initially notified about the concerns raised by the agency.

She also said they were not even asked by the agency about the fire concerns.—LDF, GMA Integrated News