Parents, studes urged to carefully pick apartment, boarding house

CEBU, Philippines - As classes for high school and college students resume next week, the Bureau of Fire Protection has advised parents and students, especially those that have come to the city for the first time, to ensure that the boarding house or apartment they will live in is not a fire hazard.

Engr. Restituto Gabisan, chief for fire prevention of BFP, assured boarding houses and apartments in the city have undergone inspection but said parents and students must also do their part in choosing their temporary residents.

Gabisan said that the major considerations in choosing a place to stay are the presence of fire exits, fire extinguishers, alarm system and emergency lights in the building. Gabisan said these factors must be taken into consideration whether the building is big or small.

Gabisan said that even if there is a fire exit, the occupant should make sure that the fire exit indeed works. Once a boarding house or apartment is chosen, Gabisan said the occupant should make it a point to familiarize the building and its surroundings.

Gabisan said they started inspecting schools, boarding houses and apartments in the city way before classes in the elementary level started last June 1. Shortly before classes began, another round of inspection began to comply with a memorandum issued by the bureau’s national office.

The bureau continues to inspect at least four boarding houses and apartments daily.

Gabisan said only a few boarding houses and apartments in the city were found to have fallen short of standards and have been advised to implement corrections.

He said owners of apartments and boarding houses are aware that they need to renew their licenses every year so that their buildings would be subjected to safety inspection. — AJ A. de la Torre/JMO (THE FREEMAN)