An Undersecretary of the Department of Interior on Local Government is arriving in Bacolod City next week to meet with entrepreneurs who are protesting the retroactive implementation of Republic Act 9514 that requires the installation of sprinkler systems.

Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Frank Carbon said yesterday that the meeting is scheduled on June 19 but the venue will be announced later.

He said they will ask for an extension of moratorium against the RA9145 as it will greatly affect the business sector, or that old buildings could install smoke and fire alarm systems, instead of sprinklers, stressing that installation of sprinklers system will be too costly.

Aside from the MBCCI, the Bacolod Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Negros Occidental Filipino-Chinese Amity Club Inc., Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental, Chamber of Real Estate Builders’ Association-Bacolod Chapter, Philippine Retailers Association-Bacolod Chapter and United Architects of the Philippines-Bacolod Chapter representing practically all commercial establishments in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are also opposing RA 9514.

The Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9514 was issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government on June 14, 2009 and a moratorium on its implementation was granted until February 14 next year.*APN

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