We need to enforce the National Building Code

One common question people tend to ask during the month of March is, why do fires occur in March at the time when the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) always declares March as Fire Prevention Month? Just last Monday some 300 houses were destroyed by a conflagration in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City which has rendered some 2,000 people homeless. Within minutes after this fire was reported, another fire alarm was raised in Sitio Human-Humay in Barangay Gun-ob also in Lapu-Lapu City where at least three houses were destroyed.

In Manila, a fire broke out at the Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel, which caused the death of at least five employees of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). The Pavilion Hotel was originally the Hilton Hotel, where during the old days our good friend Johnny Litton, then of Mever Films would invite me and my Dad for lunch. I just hope that this hotel can still be renovated.

Meanwhile, the biggest fire to hit Cebu City happened last Jan. 5 when the Metro Ayala Center or the Gaisano Metro burned for three days. Today, people want to know whether the remains of the Metro Gaisano would be destroyed and replaced with a new building. Of course we know that the month of March is observed annually as Fire Prevention Month in this country because it is normally the hottest and driest month of the year, and fires have broken out in other parts of the country. But it is the fires that strike urban centers that do the most damage because no homeowner really follows the National Building Code (NBC) where there should be ample space between homes or even commercial buildings. It is the corruption of the officials holding the zoning in a certain locality.

Meanwhile, what the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) needs are modern fire fighting equipment, something that hampered the Ayala Center last January during the fire that struck the Metro Gaisano. A simple oxygen tank for firefighters to enter a smoke-filled building we do not even have. This is not to mention the need for periodic check or testing of water sprinkler systems within building premises.

Years ago I was a guest of officials in a small Japanese city outside Tokyo whose officials proudly showed us their modern firefighting equipment. But it was their modern systems that attracted me because the fire department had all the plans of the buildings within the fire district’s jurisdiction. So when a fire alarm is sounded, fire officials first send a survey team to find out where the burning building is located and where exactly or what floor is the fire at. Only after the initial surveillance do fire officials send their firetrucks or ladder trucks because they already have an idea on how to combat the fire.

As we all know that old adage, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” If we strictly followed the National Building Code there should be enough space in between houses and most important of all, a road where firetrucks can pass through. But I dare you check your neighboring barangay and I’ll bet that firetrucks or ambulances cannot pass through the streets because of numerous illegal parking. Yes Virginia, even squatters in the Philippines have cars and they pose a grave danger to the neighborhood especially during conflagrations.

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When the issue of banning political dynasties was discussed, no less than Pres. Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte was against the idea, after all, he too belonged to a political dynasty in Davao City. In fact, 30 years ago when the People Power Revolution swept the entire nation, Cebu City was ruled by the late Mayor Ronald “Ronnie” Duterte, an uncle of Pres. Duterte. But in fairness to them, they were not a political dynasty that spanned from Davao to Cebu. Mayor Ronnie Duterte became mayor of Cebu City because of his good name and educational background.

When he retired from politics, he became the head of the University of the Southern Philippines Foundation Inc. (USPFI). He was in our Rotary Club (Mother) but has since passed away with no other Duterte running in Cebu’s fiery politics. This is why I was taken aback that when the Consultative Commission (ConCom) voted to abolish or at least limit political dynasties, Pres. Duterte said, “A few of the principled men, I would say, want this kind of thing about dynasty is abolished. I am for it.”

But the President showed his practical side, questioning whether or not banning political dynasties would pass in Congress? Of course, politicians especially those belonging to political dynasties would never vote their kind to become extinct! But if Philippine democracy has to mature, then we should all be for this for the sake of the nation.

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