MMDA checks emergency protocol breakdown

MANILA, Philippines - The Metro Manila Development Authority is supposed to be the frontline government agency in dealing with natural and manmade calamities, but its emergency protocol practically collapsed when a fire destroyed the MMDA’s records section last Friday.

MMDA chairman Thomas Orbos said yesterday he wants to know why the emergency protocol was not implemented during the 37-minute fire that broke out at around 2 p.m. at the agency’s headquarters.

Among the documents destroyed by the fire were Commission on Audit (COA) reports. 

“We have an internal investigation on why there was no fire alarm and (why) the fire marshall did not react,” Orbos said.

He said the police and Bureau of Fire Protection are also conducting their own investigations. 

Orbos said that COA should also look into the incident because of the destroyed audit records.

He said he is leaving it to the experts to explain why the emergency protocol failed during the fire.