CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/14 May) – The Bureau of Fire Protection here has issued today a notice to the local branch of Novo Jeans and Shirts to comply with the Fire Code after a conflagration of its branch in Butuan City claimed 17 lives when workers were trapped inside.
In an interview Monday, City Deputy Fire Marshall Sr. Insp. Pedro B. Felicilda said the owner of Novo is liable under Republic Act 9514, Section 11.001, which states that it is strictly prohibited to lock fire exits.
Felicilda was saddened after learning that their counterparts in Butuan City received flak over the Butuan fire.
He stressed that the owner of the building are the ones responsible to follow the laws.
“It is in the Fire Code not to lock fire exits, so there was intent to violate the Code,” said Felicilda. “Ignorance of the law excuses no one,” he stressed.
Similar to the burned Novo store in Butuan, the branch located at Velez St. here also used to be a cinema house. Felicilda said the branch here houses 20 employees.
He noted that many similar establishments owned by Filipino-Chinese businessmen house their employees inside the store, usually in the second floor, while the exit doors are locked with padlocks.
“We have issued a notice to comply with the Fire Code today. They will be given 15 days to comply,” he said.
Last week, Felicilda said they conducted a surprise inspection of the Novo branch here. “As usual, the fire exits were open because it was daytime. Nevertheless, we will conduct a surprise night inspection to be sure they are following the Fire Code,” he said.
He said that first violation of Section 10.001 of the Fire Code metes a penalty ranging from P37,500 up to P50,000.
Felicilda added that the owner of Novo can be charged “administratively, in (violation of the Fire Code resulting to multiple homicides) and also held liable criminally for gross negligence which resulted to multiple homicides.”
“It is understandable that owners of stores like Novo would lock even the fire exits to deter pilferage and robbery. But these should be locked from the inside and not with a padlock because in times of emergencies such as fire, one cannot have the time to look for the key. A simple bolt lock should be sufficient,” said Felicilda.
“If they want they can also invest in installing one-way and self-locking doors just like those used in cinema houses in the malls,” he added.
“Even before we received the memorandum from the regional director (OIC Superintendent Lindy C. Lauzon), we conduct regular inspections of disco houses, dorms, boarding houses,” Felicilda said. Specially mentioned in the memorandum were mercantile and textile shops like the Novo Jeans and Shirts Company.
This reporter tried to interview the branch manager of Novo but one of the saleslady, who refused to give her name, said their “branch manager is out of town.” (Cong B. Corrales / MindaNews)