OSMEñA STANDS ON FREEZE OF HIGH-RISE BLDG PERMITS

Despite criticisms, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will push through with his plan of freezing the permits of medium and high-rise buildings in the city, pending the establishment of safety standards.

This, after City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia criticized him that withholding of permits of buildings is “anti-development and anti-business.”

“Of course, there are some people in the city where the lives of the people are not as important as business. That's where I disagree. The lives of the people are more important,” Osmeña told reporters.

The mayor said he is concerned about the inability of the fire department to control a major fire, after it took days to put out the fire in Metro Ayala.

Osmeña said he could not bear the thought that several people will die because of the unpreparedness of the city to respond to a major fire that would probably hit highrise buildings.

As of now, the city is withholding 31 building permit applications for the construction of medium and high-rise buildings in the city.

“This is God's warning to us. If that were a high-rise residential building, wow. That will be the nightmare of my life. Maybe Garcia doesn't care. He's more interested in the business. Maybe he doesn't care if the people will die. I care,” Osmeña said.

Garcia was vocal on his opposition as the city government could extend help in improving the fire fighting capabilities of the fire department, instead of withholding the permits.

Osmeña, for his part, said it would be a temporary move of the city to withhold the release of the building permits unless the investors and contractors will meet to discuss the safety standard.

One of the things Osmeña wants to clear is to have more contingencies during fire alarms in establishments.

“There are issues on redundancy of systems because if there's fire, they shut down the generator so the water pumps in the sprinklers don't work. What do we do? This issue has to be carefully studied,” he said.

He said there is also a need to address whether it is necessary for all buildings to put ventilators to allow the smoke to be extracted in the event of a fire.

Osmeña said there are several safety issues that need to be studied and improved on, adding that he could not afford to ignore these issues.

“I'm sorry. I'm the mayor. I don't care what they think. The lives of the people come first. In the meantime, we will hold the permits of the high-rise constructions until we can think this more thoroughly and see what steps we can take,” he said.

He said the city's disaster center will convert one of the city's ambulances to install a device which can refill the oxygen tanks.

At the same time, he said the city will be procuring more breathing apparatus.

Osmeña said he is inclined to hire an external expert or consultant to further assist the city in upgrading the capacity of the disaster team and fire department in putting out a major fire.

City Councilor Sisinio Andales said the plan of the mayor is only temporary while carefully studying the advantages and disadvantages of the plan.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Fire Station Chief Inspector Noel Nelson Ababon ordered his fire safety and enforcement section to intensify the inspection of the safety standard of establishments wishing to renew their business permits this month.

Yesterday, Ababon and his station commanders paid a courtesy visit to Osmeña's office.

“Akong giingnan nga akong gi-inventory ang mga equipment sa Cebu City,” Ababon said, adding that the list of needed equipment of the city will be forwarded to the city government on Friday.

Ababon said he is thankful that Osmeña is open to assisting the fire department to upgrade its capability in putting out a major fire.