Makati mall fire 'a wake-up call'

MANILA, Philippines – The reported malfunctioning of fire safety devices when a fire hit the Powerplant mall in Makati City last April 25 should serve as a reminder to all mall owners to review the fire safety measures of their own establishments, a congressman said yesterday.

“Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt in the Powerplant mall but this should serve as a wake-up call to all mall owners to review their fire safety program,” said Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian, son of business tycoon William Gatchalian.

Gatchalian said several shoppers told him there was “no fire alarm,” the sprinklers were defective, nor was there any public address system to guide the shoppers out of the building, and fire extinguishers were not even used.

He said he was told that shoppers never saw any of the staff of the razed Sumo Sam restaurant pulling out any fire extinguisher to put out the fire, despite a very strict requirement in the Fire Code for all business establishments to have one.

Gatchalian said there is a “need to revisit the Fire Code to ensure that all shopping malls strictly follow the fire safety provisions of the code especially the regular inspection of sprinklers, fire extinguishers and public address system.” – Delon Porcalla