Senate President Franklin M. Drilon vowed on Tuesday to prioritize measures that will modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), following a fire that trapped and killed 72 factory workers in Valenzuela City.
“In the Senate, we will give priority to this proposed ordinance that will modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection,” Drilon said in a Bombo Radyo interview.
Drilon added that the Valenzuela fire incident did not only highlight the limitations of the BFP; it also revealed the common lapses continuously being committed by local government units, which undermine building safety and fire- prevention efforts.
“In this case, the BFP is claiming that there is no fire inspection certification issued by the BFP to Kentex Manufacturing Corp. On the other hand, the local government of Valenzuela is complaining that there is no available inspector from the BFP and that it could not let the applications for business permits by factories be left unattended for long,” Drilon said.
“It is evident that there were a lot of errors in the process, and that is why we will give focus in the Senate to proposals to review the National Building and Fire Codes and the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection,” Drilon stressed.
To ensure the smooth implementation of the fire safety laws, Drilon said there is a need to clarify the responsibilities of the BFP and LGUs with regard to ensuring that the buildings are up to standard with fire safety and evacuation plans.