Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo asked businessmen in Bacolod City to come up with a position paper on their request for an extension of the implementation of a national law that requires the installation of sprinkler systems, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday.

Robredo, together with Leonardia, met with former Vice Mayor Ramiro Garcia, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Frank Carbon, businessmen Crispin Chua and Elbert Valencia in Talisay City Saturday on the concern of business groups in Bacolod City who asked for exemption of existing buildings from a retroactive clause set in the Implementing Rules and Regulation of R.A. 9514, or the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008.

Carbon said Robredo suggested that they write him requesting for an extension of two years to give them time to work it out with their congressmen for the law to be amended so that existing buildings will not be required to install automatic sprinklers, but only new constructions.

He said they have already discussed their concern with Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez Jr. and Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), who assured them of their help.

Garcia said Robredo also suggested that they get other cities involved in the request to him to extend the moratorium and work with senators and congressmen to amend the law.

He said the law was passed towards the end of the term of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Garcia said they will come up with a position paper to inform others about the law since they have only nine months left before it is to be implemented on Feb. 14, 2013.

There are many other ways to make a building safe without destroying it just to install a sprinkler system, Garcia said.

To be affected the most by the automatic sprinkler system provision will be hotels, dormitories and malls in the city, as well as the three public markets, he said.

Garcia said installing a sprinkler system in an old building will cost millions because the structure has to be destroyed and this will cause some businesses to die.

Before the arrival of President Aquino, the city’s business community installed streamers along main roads in Bacolod with the message “By February 14, 2013, Business in Bacolod will Die, Mr. President, please help us.”

Seven business groups in Bacolod City called on President Benigno Aquino III to prevent the retroactive implementation of a national law that they say will cause local businesses to die.

Establishments found violating the law will be meted a fine of P25,000 for the first offense, P50,000 for the second offense, and will be declared a fire hazard and closed down if it still fails to comply.

The business groups are asking that its provisions, which include the automatic sprinkler systems, be made applicable to new buildings and structures, and that the status quo be maintained for existing buildings and structures

Garcia said that, at least, they got the attention of Malacañang and they plan to communicate with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding the matter. He said Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas had already written Robredo about it.

Garcia said he plans to come up with a primer on which buildings in Bacolod are going to be affected so everybody will be aware.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said “We appreciate the DILG Secretary for taking time out, despite the Liberal Party convention Saturday. True, to his word, right after the oath-taking, he left the stage and met with us,” Leonardia, who arranged for the meeting with Robredo, said.*CGS

back to top