2 SCHOOLS ORDERED CLOSED FOR FIRE CODE VIOLATIONS

Two private schools in Quezon City are to be closed for their continuing failure to comply with the Fire Code of the Philippines despite several warnings issued by the city’s fire department.

During a regular meeting of the Quezon City peace and order council (QCPOC), Mayor Herbert M. Bautista ordered the city’s Bureau of Fire And Protection (BFP) District fire marshall Sr. Supt. Bobby Baruelo to immediately stop the operation of Claret  School, an exclusive school for boys,  located at Mahinhin St. U.P. Village, and  Blue Ridge Christian Academy located at Boni Serrano Road, Murphy, Cubao.

The order came after Baruelo updated the Mayor on the list of business establishments in the city that did not comply with the Fire Code of the Philippines based on routine inspections conducted by the fire department as early as the mid-months of 2010.

Baruelo had informed Mayor Bautista that the two private schools were given notice to comply as early as when their first violation was noted by fire inspectors. However, despite several warnings, violations continued until the last inspection in the months of February and March this year. The violation of the two schools, the QC fire district marshall said, had also been referred to the BFP-NCR-Regional Office for proper action.

 “Let’s close the two schools due to the danger they posed to the children enrolled in their institutions. It is better that we closed them now that the school year is almost over and students will be on vacation. We will give them 2 months to comply before they could resume operation in the next school opening in June,” Bautista said.

The mayor also asked Baruelo to monitor other schools in QC to prevent fire-related incidents that might arise and might bring damage and problem not only to property but also to lives. “It is important that we closely monitor schools since they are high-density establishments,” he said.

Based on reports, some of the violations of Claret School are no AFSS; insufficient fire alarm and detection system; no wet standpipe system; no illuminated directional exit signage; no automatic emergency lights; insufficient portable fire extinguishers; no fire drill/seminar; has not relocated LPG tanks outside building and the tanks were not provided with auto shut-off device; and lack of FALAR.

Blue Ridge Christian Academy, on the other hand,  has three violations such as no standpipe system; no fire drill/seminar; and obstructed fire exit at the second floor.

The strict compliance with the Fire Code is being regularly monitored in QC to avoid disasters like the recent fires that gutted down some residential houses in Barangay Central, Barangay Vasra, and Barangay Bahay Toro. -30- Maureen Quinones, PAISO