90 percent of Baguio buildings fire hazards

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City fire department here disclosed that at least 90 percent of public and private structures in this mountain resort city are considered fire hazards that could pose a serious threat to life and limb.

However, Senior Supt. Richard Villanueva, Baguio City fire marshall, said the deficiencies they have noted in numerous structures all over the city could immediately be corrected and there is no need to worry provided building owners implement their recommendations soonest.

The fire department is conducting the mandatory inspection of establishments and structures all over the city to make sure that they are compliant with the Fire Code of the Philippines that mandates the provision of fire exits, among others.

Villanueva said their inspectors found serious violations of the Fire Code and they are recommending the stoppage of operations of several establishments in the central business district until such time that building owners comply with basic fire safety requirements.

He said one of the major violators of the Fire Code is the city government itself because of its continued failure to improve the structures in the Baguio City public market that are dilapidated, with some in the state of condemnation and abandonment due to their old wooden composition.

According to Villanueva, even the city’s main roads are considered fire hazards because of the monstrous traffic congestions as well as the unabated parking along the roadsides which could impede efficient and effective firefighting operations in the central business district.

The fire marshall attributed the poor compliance in the city to the lack of awareness of the people on the simple requirements of putting up commercial buildings, thus the need for a massive information and education campaign.

At the same time, Villanueva said the city government must mandate building owners to put up fire exits in their structures to avoid possible closure of their businesses.

While the local fire department could not do the inspection of the numerous establishments in the city overnight, the fire official said they will slowly introduce innovations to allow building owners to comply with the Fire Code.