‘Senate, House not firetraps’

The Bureau of Fire Protection denied reports that the Senate and House of Representatives buildings, located in Pasay City and Quezon City, respectively, and more than 100 other establishments are firetraps.

In a statement, the BFP denied reports that the Senate and House of Representatives buildings are included in a list of 128 firetraps.

BFP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Danilo Cabrera said the list does not exist and stressed that the bureau has not made an official declaration that 128 buildings are firetraps.

BFP Acting Chief Francisco Senot said the Senate and House of Representatives buildings may have certain deficiencies in the fire safety requirements of the Fire Code, "but certainly they cannot be considered as firetraps."

Senot clarified that for a building to be considered a firetrap, it must fall under the rating of high hazard or very high hazard of the fire service. The rating is based on the inspection report containing a checklist of information or data that will help in determining the degree of hazard in a building or structure, Senot explained.

"The Senate and House of Representatives buildings have neither a rating of high hazard or very high hazard," he noted.

Meanwhile, Senot disclosed a partial list of public and private establishments in Metro Manila recommended by BFP-NCR for closure for violations of the fire safety standards.

The list, Senot said, included 54 buildings located in the four fire districts in Metro Manila. Of the total 13, are public and private hospitals, two are private schools, two are hotels, one is a government building and the rest are multi-level structures in Makati City, Parañaque City, Manila and Pasay City.

According to Senot, the 54 buildings recommended for closure have committed various violations of the Fire Code.

Their violations include no automatic sprinkler system, no automatic signalling system, no fire drills conducted, insufficient fire hoses, no self-closing doors at fire exits, insufficient automatic emergency lighting, no organized fire brigade, no fire safety inspection certificate, no fire pump, no exit plans installed, no luminous directional exit signs, wood and plywood partition untreated with fire retardant.