After Banilad fire killed student; Rama: Inspect boarding houses

CEBU, Philippines - The lack of fire exits has prompted Mayor Michael Rama to direct the Office of the Building Officials to inspect all boarding houses in Cebu City.

This after he received reports that the Barangay Banilad, Cebu City boarding house that fire burned down last Saturday allegedly does not have fire exit.

He said City Hall would be involved in checking boarding houses, especially those with a building permit but actually does not have fire exits.

“That’s where the fire department, that’s where the region and the city should go hand in hand. And the national (government, too), kaysa maglisod-lisod lang sila (because if not, they would just be making it difficult for them),” he said.

He said that he has been telling the OBO to revisit the boarding houses.

Lawyer Jose Marie Poblete, OBO chief, said that they still do not have a complete list of boarding houses in the City.

Poblete, who is also the city Department of Engineering and Public Works officer-in-charge, said that there is the possibility that some residential houses were converted into dormitories.

He said house owners should have the initiative to apply for building and business permits.

Poblete urged barangay officials to exercise their powers by monitoring illegal structures in their area.

He said City Ordinance 1481 has empowered the barangays to go after illegal constructions in their areas of jurisdiction.

He added that OBO needs the help of everyone, especially the local officials, since the office is currently undermanned.

Meanwhile, Rama said survivors of the Saturday fire may be relocated to another place.

He said he would do the same in Banilad like what the city government did when a fire happened in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel months back.

“Fire should never become an opportunity for (lot) owners to further oppress the victim,” Rama said.

“However, when you talk about limited easement, we have to recover. However, when you talk about the establishment of a sidewalk, then we will have a sidewalk,” he added.

He said that he wanted the bridge near the fire scene area widened to solve one of the many problems he see in the place.— /RHM (FREEMAN)