More than 10,000 Valenzuela shops without fire clearance

More than 10,000 of 15,000 business estab- lishments in Valenzuela City are still operating without a fire safety inspection clearance (FSIC) from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), an official said Saturday.

In a text message to The Star, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said they had started closing down shops that lack the FSIC following the “no FSIC, no business permit” policy of President Aquino last month.

From the targeted 13,000 shops with no FSIC, the Valenzuela BFP was able to issue 1,300 FSICs and processed another 1,500 as about 300 inspectors were tasked to augment its force within two consecutive months.

Gatchalian stressed that while they were willing to close the shops, the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court (RTC) stopped them from doing so after the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in Valenzuela secured a “status quo ante order” around two weeks ago pending decision on merits of the case.

“We were stopped by the court from proceeding with our action to shut (the shops) down. The business community cited the Robredo circulars and the adverse effect on the economy and employment given the number of establishments without FSIC. They also said this will cause damage nationwide because other LGUs might follow suit,” Gatchalian said.

He claimed that around 250,000 business establishments in Metro Manila have no FSIC. The BFP earlier admitted that it could not cope with the inspection workload in time for the renewal of business permits.

Initially, Valenzuela was stopped by the Pasig RTC, which issued a tmporary restraining order.

Last month, Gatchalian issued General Executive Order 2017-107 mandating the revocation of business permits that are not covered by FSIC. About 10,200 business establishments countered that they were waiting to be inspected by the BFP’s Valenzuela office, which, in turn, said it did not have enough people to do the inspection.

Gatchalian said the augmentation force sent by several cities nationwide has been recalled after issuing only 1,217 certificates.

The Valenzuela BFP also reportedly refused to give the city government its recommendations or a list of establishments that did not comply with the fire code standards.

Valenzuela hit the headlines after more than 70 employees were killed in a fire that hit a slipper factory in May. A post-fire investigation showed that Kentex Manufacturing Corp. and numerous other establishments were able to secure a mayor’s permit and operate without an FSIC.

Gatchalian said they were able to issue business permits even without the FSIC by following a memorandum circular by the late interior secretary Jesie Robredo on expediting the business permit issuance process.

The Department of Justice earlier ordered the filing of administrative and criminal charges against Gatchalian and several others for violating the Fire Code of the Philippines and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Gatchalian, along with Terrence King Ong, Kentex operations manager Ong King Guan and Beato Ang, were also charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries charges.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas urged mayors and governors to prioritize public safety and peace and order to make communities conducive to economic growth, stability and progress.

He also instructed the BFP to strictly implement the Fire Code, with all businesses and establishments in the Metro Manila inspected for fire hazards.

“This is a preventive measure to avoid another tragedy similar to the Kentex Manufacturing factory fire that killed 72 individuals in Valenzuela City in May 2015,” said Roxas.

Roxas attended the 2015 Special National Assembly of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines yesterday in Pasay City.

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