Cebu City police building tagged a ‘fire hazard’
A policeman shows an illustration of how the new Cebu City Police Office would look after the dilapidated building behind him is renovated.
(CDN FILE PHOTO)
The two-story building of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) in Gorordo Avenue is a fire risk.
After inspecting it yesterday morning, Alvin Santillana, disaster officer of Cebu city, said the dilapidated wooden building was a fire hazard.
The structure can still be used, he said, but fire extinguishers have to be installed and “some preventive measures” should be implemented to prevent fire accidents.
The CCPO building was previously used by the defunct Philippine Constabulary.
It is occupied by the homicide section, warrant and subpoena section, Crime Scene Investigation Unit (CSIU) and finance section.
Construction is expected to start this year for a new office building after a P50 million budget from City Hall was approved.
“We have to do this ASAP,” said Santillana.
Ironic
In last Wednesday’s City Council session, Danilo Lim of the Office of the Building Official said they only have two inspectors and a driver to conduct inspections of hundreds of buildings in Cebu City.
Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon pointed out that electrical misuse is one of the top causes of fire in Cebu City.
“It’s very ironic that a highly-urbanized city like ours only has two inspectors,” Dizon said.
Lim said they have plans to hire additional inspectors and they will include their request in this year’s supplemental budget.
Stringent
“If you wait for supplemental budget it may be a long time. It is critical and imperative that you can’t do what you can do,” Councilor Margot Osmeña said.
Osmeña said the OBO should ask the Human Resources Department to identify personnel from other departments that can be employed by the OBO.
She said some departments have more than enough staffers in their payroll.
Engr. Erwin Salvador, president of the Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines Cebu Chapter, said more frequent and stringent inspections should be done to ensure compliance with fire safety and building codes.
“Inspection of establishments is very important to prevent fire incidents but it needs sufficient manpower,” he said.
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