Seven establishments in Bacolod City have already complied with the national law requiring the installation of a sprinkler system, while installation of the required automatic fire suppression system in six others is still ongoing, a report from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Bacolod City, showed.

Those that have complied are the Bacolod Sanitarium and Hospital, The Doctors Hospital, New Paradise Realty and Development Corp., Tindalo Pension, Omar Pension, Parable Holdings, Inc., and Savemore-Libertad.

Installation of the AFSS is still ongoing in Arcade Dormitory, Bacolod Pavillion Resort Hotel, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Mandaue Foam Industris Inc., and Consolacion Cua, the report said.

Bureau of Fire Protection Fire Marshal Chief Insp. Pamela Rojane Candido yesterday said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has issued Memorandum Circular 2014-06 giving businessmen two years to comply with the law that requires the installation of sprinkler systems.

Considering that the order took effect in 2011, the two year period will lapse on February 14, 2013, she said.

Candido said if other business owners would like to make another petition for the extension of the moratorium that will expire on Feb. 14, 2013, that is their prerogative.

Based on the report of the BFP, there are 42 establishments in Bacolod that have signed the moratorium seeking a two-year extension, last year.

Robredo was requested by Mayor Evelio Leonardia to meet with the local businessmen when he arrived Saturday with President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino lll, for the convention of the Liberal Party in Negros in Talisay.

During the meeting, Robredo asked the businessmen to come up with a position paper on their request for another extension of the implementation of the sprinkler system.

Meanwhile Councilor Cesar Distrito said the streamer installed along main roads in Bacolod City that read “By Feb. 14, 2013, Businesses in Bacolod will die. Mr. President, please help us!,” refers to the sprinkler issue and not to any local issue in the city.

The businessmen were citing the deadline of Feb. 14, 2013 set by Bureau of Fire Protection Chief Director Rolando M. Bandilla, Jr. through Memorandum Circular No. 2011-06 directing all regional, provincial, city and municipal fire marshals regarding supplemental guidelines for an effective transitory compliance from the Old Fire Code (PD 1185) to the new Fire Code of 2008 (RA 9514), amending Section 14.0.0.7 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9514.

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

The Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9514 was issued by the DILG on June 14, 2009 and a moratorium on its implementation was granted until Feb. 14, 2013. The law was passed in 2008.

Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Frank Carbon said Robredo suggested that they write him requesting for an extension 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.

Candido said the installation of the automatic fire suppression systems (sprinkler system) is a paramount concern as far as public safety is concerned.*CGS

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