Adopt safety measures, SB appeals

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. urged yesterday owners and operators of establishments to initiate the improvement of their facilities to prevent a repeat of the Manor Hotel fire tragedy, which left 75 people dead and 41 injured.

"We are calling on owners of business establishments, especially in places where people congregate at night, to correct defects themselves to avoid accident," Belmonte said in an interview aired over radio station dzMM.

Locked fire exits and lack of emergency lights, fire alarms and doors that swing outward, were among the defects found in the hotel. They prevented the victims from fleeing during the fire.

The Quezon City police has filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple death against nine persons, two of whom were William Genato and his wife Rebecca, owner and president of the Manor Hotel, respectively

The Manor incident prompted Belmonte to order the inspection of all establishments in the city, particularly nightspots, hotels and restaurants.

The mayor said that it will take time for the city government to inspect all the establishments in the city so there is a need for the people, themselves, to do their part.

At present, there are around 60,000 business establishments operating in the city.

"We cannot inspect all the buildings in a sweep. The fastest way to achieve our goal is for people to help us. I hope they would not wait for us to inform them about the defects of their buildings," he said.

Belmonte also called on the public to be vigilant against establishments that do no comply with the Building Safety Code.

He said that his office is ready to accept complaints about establishments violating fire safety measures. – Cecille Suerte Felipe