34,000 noncompliant establishments face closure - BFP

MANILA, Philippines - More than 34,000 establishments in Metro Manila are facing closure for failure to comply with fire safety guidelines, the head of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said Wednesday. In a telephone interview, Chief Superintendent Enrique P. Linsangan, BFP national director, said of the 298,021 establishments inspected this year, 12% or 34,514 were found noncompliant in terms of safety provisions in the Fire Code. He said the common violations were lack of fire exits, poorly built fire exits, lack of ventilation, illegal or improper installation of wires and absence of fire safety devices. "Owners of these establishments were told to correct their Fire Code violations. Their buildings will be reinspected within this year and if our inspectors find out that they are still noncompliant, their buildings will be recommended for closure," he said. In a report submitted by the BFP to Interior Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno Wednesday, 45% or 11, 935 establishments in Metro Manila were found violating the Fire Code. Meanwhile, 78 establishments have been recommended for closure "for repeatedly ignoring warnings by fire officials to correct violations of the Fire Code." On the other hand, 84% or 251,400 establishments nationwide were compliant and were issued fire safety inspection certificates. The report noted that the BFP reviewed 37,637 building plans to ensure adequate safety devices. Mr. Linsangan said about 600,000 establishments nationwide are still up for inspection. He said the BFP aims to finish its nationwide inspection in the first quarter of 2009. "The BFP has a grave shortage of fire inspectors in relation to the number of structures to be checked. This does not take into consideration the construction of new buildings, which averages to 100,000 units each year," Mr. Linsangan said. He said the BFP has only 1,620 fire inspectors. With this number, he said the BFP can only inspect more than 380,000 establishments annually. — E. T. Marcelo, BusinessWorld