The Fourteenth Sangguniang Panglungsod, led by Hon. Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, passed an Ordinance requiring all business establishments in the City of Tagbilaran with less than 50 employees to undergo a Fire Safety Seminar, conduct fire and exit drills, and to organize fire brigades. This shall be facilitated by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and shall form part of the requirements for the issuance of a business permit the following year. These fire safety seminars are designed to raise awareness on the fire hazards in the workplace, and equip employees with the needed knowledge and skills in the event of a fire outbreak. The Ordinance further instructs that those with 15 employees and below shall send one representative for every five employees to attend a one-hour Fire Safety Seminar to be held at the Tagbilaran City Central Fire Station, or at a place designated by the BFP. These seminars shall be conducted by the BFP at least twice a week.For those business establishments with 16 to 50 employees, they are required to undergo the Fire Safety Seminar, conduct fire and exit drills, and organize fire brigades. The aforementioned shall form part of the requirements needed for the issuance of a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC), which is mandatory for the issuance of a business permit for the ensuing business year. These business establishments shall be required to pay a fee of only 200 pesos with the City Treasurer’s Office. Public institutions such as schools, churches and charitable outreach homes are exempted from paying the said fee. The BFP shall issue a Certificate of Completion once the business establishment has complied with all the requirements.Failure to comply shall result in the issuance of fines to the owner of the business establishment. A Notice of Violation shall be given to first-time offenders. A fine of 3,000 pesos and 5,000 pesos shall then be imposed to the second-time and third-time offenders respectively. The third offense shall also result in the closure of the business establishment. Hon. Eliezer L. Borja is the sponsor of the said Ordinance, as the Chairman of the Committee on Peace, Public Order and Safety.
