By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla warned fire personnel from peddling fire extinguishers to business owners who are securing fire safety clearances for their respective businesses.
“Bawal magbenta ng fire extinguisher ang mga fire marshal at kung may ganon i-report n’yo kaagad sa akin at tatanggalin ko ‘yan on the spot (Fire marshals are prohibited from selling fire extinguishers and if you see someone doing that report it immediately to me and I will fire that person on the spot),” he said in a statement on Friday.
The DILG chief said when he was Cavite governor, he reprimanded fire personnel who engaged in illegal practices, including endorsing contractors for fire sprinklers.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Memorandum Circular 2016-016 strictly prohibits personnel from selling fire extinguishers and endorsing manufacturers, dealers, or suppliers of firefighting equipment.
During an event in Cebu on Wednesday, Remulla asked local chief executives (LCEs) to urge business owners to file a complaint against erring BFP personnel who dabble in such illegal activities and delay the issuance of fire clearances.
Under Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law, the BFP shall issue the Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance (FSEC) and Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) to businesses within seven working days.
Digitalization
Also during the Cebu event, Remulla told the local officials that he is aiming to streamline paperwork in local government units (LGUs) to reduce the number of hours spent by mayors and governors in signing documents.
He noted that an LCE usually devotes three hours a day or 15 hours a week just to sign numerous documents such as contracts, notice of salary adjustment, and notice of award, among others.
“We are going in that direction,” Remulla told the LCEs, referring to the digitalization of documents.
According to him, the DILG is now meeting with the Commission on Audit and the Civil Service Commission to devise a program to simplify the processing of documents for LGUs.
“We would come up with a program. By June 30, 2025, ang pirmahin n’yo na (what you’re signing for) 15 hours a week, ire-reduce natin (we’ll reduce) to one hour a week, by digitalization, simplifying the forms, lahat yan (all that) simplified into one hour a week,” Remulla said. (PNA)
