Bizmen seeks more time to abide fire sprinkler law

THE business sector in Bacolod asked Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to grant their request for an additional six months to one year extension of the moratorium on the retroactive implementation of the sprinkler system law.

Architect Ramiro "Chick" Garcia, a member of the Bacolod Ad-Hoc Committee on the Fire Code of the Philippines, said they are obliged to abide by the law since the moratorium on the installation of sprinkler systems will take effect on February 14, after the moratorium expires.

He added that, while they are bent on complying with the law, they need ample time before they can fully comply with it.

In his letter to Roxas dated January 16, Garcia said they were told by Bureau of Fire Protection Officer-in-charge Chief Supt. Ruben Bearis that their office is not amenable to their appeal for a review of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9514, or the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 that requires the installation of sprinkler systems.

Bearis said their agency is mandated under section 5 of the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 to issue implementing rules and regulations subject to the approval of the DILG secretary.

Garcia said they will comply with the order of the DILG, but are also asking it to ask the city government to install sprinkler systems in the public-owned entities like the three public markets, to comply with the IRR of RA9514.

During his visit to Negros Occidental in May last year, the Bacolod Ad-Hoc Committee on the Fire Code of the Philippines had asked President Benigno Aquino III for help and for the review of the IRR of RA9514.

However, the President only referred them to the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and their appeal was not acted upon, Garcia said.

He said that with the new leadership at DILG, they hope their clamor on the sprinkler system will be resolved; otherwise they may resort to other measures so their appeal will be heeded. (CNC)