In preparation for the opening of classes, the Cebu City Fire Department conducted inspection of boarding houses in the city and found out that most of them violated the fire safety code.
City fire marshal Esmael Codilla said that some boarding houses do not even have mayor’s permit from City Hall, which is one of the requirements to do business.
According to him, many of these boarding houses do not have fire appliances and proper fire exits, which made them dangerous especially when fire breaks out.
"A number of them do not have fire appliances like smoke detectors, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Kadaghanan kulang gyud," Codilla told The Freeman.
Codilla said they already sent notices to the owner of these boarding houses, warning them to comply with the requirements or face closure.
He said that they have actually started inspecting and monitoring those houses that do not comply with the fire safety standards since January.
They have intensified the inspection now because the opening of classes is fast approaching and students, especially those from the provinces, are expected to flock to the city where they stay in boarding houses while they study here.
"Those we previously inspected that have not complied, when we inspected them again, we saw they already followed our recommendations. Comply dayon sila kay hadlok man sila masirado ilang negosyo," Codilla said.
"Our inspection is continuous because we have to monitor those who have not complied."
But he admitted that they could have not covered all the boarding houses because some of them appear like a residential house. - Wenna A. Berondo/LPM