NAVAL, Biliran, June 1 (PIA) — With the opening of classes, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Naval perceived the impending danger of occupants in households, particularly in terms of electrical usage, thus, creating fire.
Being the capital town and center of commerce in the province of Biliran, Naval houses a university and highly populated elementary and secondary schools catering transient workers and students whose accommodations vary from homestays, dormitories to boarding houses.
Senior Fire Officer (SFO) 2 David Victor Francis Casas of BFP-Naval said during the Kapihan at Pulong-Pulong ng Bayan hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Biliran over Radyo Natin yesterday, that to ensure safety of these accommodations not only in preparation for the opening of classes but all year round, BFP-Naval made coordinations with the local government unit of the municipality to ensure that every household and establishment follow fire safety laws as stipulated in the fire code.
He added that in January of every year, dormitories, boarding houses and business establishments have to first secure approval from the BFP before they are issued business permit from the LGU.
Upon application, he said, the fire department conducts ocular inspection of the applicant’s establishment for fire safety compliance. Once the fire department finds deficiencies in the structure of the building, electrical installations, and firefighting equipment, said applicant is given 15 days to rectify or comply the deficiencies. If the applicant fails to comply with the requirements to correct the deficiency, BFP is compelled to enforce closure of the establishment.
Further, SFO2 Casas said, aside from securing these accommodations and business establishments, BFP-Naval also conducts inspection of both elementary and high schools in the municipality especially before the opening of classes in June.
He said, the most common findings of BFP-Naval in their rounds of inspection made to schools were lack of fire alarm, expired fire extinguishers, and use of substandard electrical wirings and materials.
SFO2 Casas, together with Fire Officer 1 Cyrill Salceda, Information Officer-designate of BFP-Naval represented Inspector Primitivo B. Tomilluso, Jr., Naval Municipal Fire Marshal during the Kapihan forum over Radyo Natin-Naval. (ajc/fj/mlt-PIA8 Biliran)
