Backyard Garbage Burn Pile Becomes Backyard Funeral Pyre

I have documented on this blog how Filipinos love to burn garbage. They simply cannot be bothered to gather all the trash, put it in a bag, and wait for it to be collected. Most of the time the result is simply a disgusting gray miasma hanging in the air and creeping through your window. This time burning garbage resulted in a man's death. 

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/14/octogenarian-dies-in-backyard-fire

An 85-year-old man was burned to death while cleaning his backyard in Barangay Taliba here on Tuesday afternoon, February 13.

Police identified the victim as Sofronio Atienza Marasigan.

Investigation said the octogenarian was burning garbage in his backyard when the fire reached the nearby bamboo trees.

Marasigan attempted to extinguish the flames but lost his balance and fell into the burning bamboo.

He failed to get up and was burned to death.

Firemen put out the fire and found the victim’s body.

This old man was burning his garbage, the fire spread, and when he attempted to put it out he was consumed in the flames. 

Now, of course this is not the normal run of things. This is not usually how sparking a pile of leaves and trash turns out but this time it did. It COULD happen. It's a wonder it does not happen more often. Especially the spreading of the fire. Every single time a trash pile is lit on fire the arsonist wanders away leaving the flames to their own devices. Tragedy is one gust of wind away. 

The lesson is clear. Don't burn your trash!

Residential Fires January, 2024

The Bureau of Fire Protection says residential fires were up 20.7% in 2023. These fires are always very destructive, immolating whole neighborhoods and displacing hundreds of familes and thousands of people with a single spark. The BFP also says residential areas are not covered by the fire code which means no one is inspecting those areas to prevent these devestaing fires.

Therefore I have decided to document these fires monthly as reported in the news. Hopefully we can see some patterns and gain a greater understanding of this preventable problem. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/11/1-hurt-300-residents-displaced-in-pandacan-fire

A 19-year-old boy was injured while 360 families or 1,118 individuals were rendered homeless by a fire that gutted at least 240 houses on Dapo Street, Pandacan, Manila on Thursday morning, Jan. 11.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) identified the victim as Prince Adrian Cayago, who sustained a laceration on top of his head.

He was rushed to Ospital ng Maynila by the emergency team of Manila Fire District (MFD) and is currently under observation.

The BFP said the fire was raised to the first alarm at 5:57 a.m. and to the second alarm at 5:59 a.m.

It escalated to the third alarm at 6:49 a.m. and to the fourth alarm at 6:57 a.m.

Firefighters declared the blaze under control at 8:01 a.m.

It was extinguished at 8:26 a.m.

Based on the initial investigation, the fire started on the second floor of a two-story house owned by Fernando "Boyet" Melgar.

The BFP said three barangays were affected by the fire. They were barangays 849, 850, 852.

It said 53 displaced families or 160 individuals were residing in Barangay 849, while 279 families or 874 individuals were in Barangay 850, and 28 families or 84 individuals in Barangay 852.

According to arson investigators, the residential blocks had adjacent houses made of light materials.

They said 80 of the 240 affected structures were fully gutted.

Around P2.6 million worth of property was damaged.

Firefighters said they had difficulty entering the area as the pathway leading to the burning houses was littered with debris.

Several cables were also scattered in the area after the electric poles caught fire.

They said that they also encountered problems with the water supply.

The affected families called on the Manila local government to help them recover and start anew as all of their properties were damaged.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Manila Department of Social Welfare arrived at the scene and started distributing hot meals to the fire victims.

Financial assistance from the city government will also be provided once the enlisting and verification process is finished, said the Manila Public Information Office.

The first fire of the year is quite stereotypical of all that will follow. The houses are all made of light, flammable materials, the walkways are narrow and blocked with debris, and in this case the responding firemen encountered problem with the water supply. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/17/50-families-affected-by-fire-in-alabang

A fire hit a residential area in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa Wednesday night, Jan. 17, affecting about 50 families. 

In a report by the Muntinlupa City Fire Station, the fire started at 7B Ilaya Street in Alabang at about 7:03 p.m. 

Firefighters raised the first alarm at 7:10 p.m. followed by a second alarm at 7:25 p.m. 

Investigators estimated that the fire caused damage amounting to P280,000. It affected 50 families or about 200 individuals. 

Firefighters put the blaze under control at 8:47 p.m. before it was put out at 9:33 p.m. The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation. 

A total of 28 firetrucks and five ambulances responded to the incident.

According to Mayor Ruffy Biazon said he ordered the Muntinlupa Social Services Department (SSD) to prepare food assistance for the fire victims. 

Together with officials of Barangay Alabang, the city government has designated the Alabang Elementary School as evacuation center. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/17/article-1734

A total of 11 families or 46 individuals lost their homes in a fire that broke out in a residential area in Barangay Medicion II-B in Imus City on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

The blaze was reported at 2:40 p.m., Imus City Fire Station (FS) told the Manila Bulletin.

The fire was declared under control at 2:48 and was put out at 3:00 p.m.

Authorities have estimated the damage caused by the blaze at P175,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, meanwhile, said affected families are temporarily seeking shelter at Medicion II-B Barangay Hall.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1891142/16-families-left-homeless-after-fire-in-zamboanga-del-sur-town

Sixteen families were left homeless as 11 houses were hit by fire around 3 p.m. on Wednesday in Tawagan Norte village, Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur.

Tawagan Norte village chief Raul Rivera said that prior to the fire, the community experienced brownout.

“When the electricity was back, a wire sparked which they said was the cause of the fire,” Rivera said, citing the account of residents.

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Marvin Julius Pagaduan confirmed that the fire was due to faulty electrical wiring.

Labangan Mayor Eduardo Relacion immediately distributed initial assistance of P10,000 per household, packed meals, rice, and potable water.

Rivera said he had also asked for additional assistance to the affected families from the Zamboanga del Sur provincial government.

Brownouts are a frequent nusiance in the Philippines. In this case after a brownout when the power was turend back on a wire sparked due to the surge of electircity. The two causes here are the faulty wiring and the brownout. Faulty wiring is a problem seen all throughout the Philippines with its leaning electric poles, dangling wires, frayed wires, and wires held together with tape rather than being properly capped. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/24/family-of-5-killed-in-albay-fire

A family of five were killed in a fire that destroyed their house in Barangay Kilicao, Daraga, Albay, on Tuesday night, January 23.

Police Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office-5 spokesperson, identified the victims as Moncris, 35, his live-in partner, Rosalie, 35, and their three minor children.

Arson investigators said the victims were trapped and failed to get out of their house built of light materials.

Moncris was jobless and Rosalie was a laundrywoman.

Arson probers have yet to determine the cause of the fire and damage to property.

Remains of the victims were taken to a funeral parlor in Daraga for proper disposition.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1894790/4-dead-1-hurt-in-lucena-city-fire

Four people died in a fire early Friday that gutted at least 15 houses in a residential area in this city, police said.

In a spot report, Lucena City police identified the fatalities as Lolit Lubiano, 72; Juanito, Hernando, 65; Jay Mark Hernando, 18; and Mark Rainiel Hernando, 8.

Corporal Angel Micco Cabangon, the case investigator, did not provide details on the family relationship between the Hernandos except that they were all living together in one of the burned houses.

Another victim identified as Margarita Punzalan, suffered a second-degree burn and was rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment.

The blaze broke out at 3:45 a.m. in a residential area in Barangay 1 and was put out at 6:26 a.m.

Firemen were still conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Mayor Mark Alcala and his father, Vice Mayor Roderick Alcala, immediately went to the area and met with the victims.

The local officials vowed to provide assistance to the victims.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/553592/8-fires-in-one-day-3-injured-including-firefighter

Firefighters here responded to a total of eight fires on Sunday, January 28, that injured three people and gobbled up around P2.2 million in properties.

Of the eight fires that occurred last Sunday, three of these involved residential areas. The rest were rubbish or grass fires, the Cebu City Fire Office reported.

The first fire happened close to 6 a.m., along Cabajar Street in Brgy. Guadalupe, and burned down seven structures.

The flames, according to initial findings from fire investigators, originated from the house of a certain Maria Socorro Piloto.

At least 40 individuals were affected, and damage was pegged at P854,000.

Roughly three hours later, firefighters rushed to Lower Torre in Brgy. Inayawan to respond to another fire alarm, also involving residential buildings.

There, the flames, which started from the house belonging to Arcebio Beral, gutted a total of three structures, with properties worth P500,000 turned to ashes.

But just an hour after the fire in Brgy. Inayawan occurred, firefighters went to Brgy. Bacayan where another fire broke out.

The fire in Brgy. Bacayan, a mountain barangay in Cebu City’s northern district, razed six houses and damaged six more.

Three individuals, including a fire officer, also got injured during Sunday’s fire.

Fire Officer 1 Dave Arellano suffered first degree burns on his right hand while trying to douse the flames.

Two minors, ages 13 and 14 years old, also sustained burn wounds on their arms, legs and shoulders.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Emerson Arceo said the fire that hit Brgy. Bacayan started from the house of spouses Benjamin and Verlena Codeniera.

Investigations continue for all three fires as of this writing. 

That is nine significant residential fires in January reported by the media. Cebu had three fires in one day!

Residential Areas in the Philippines Are Not Covered By The Fire Code

The BFP has released fire statistics for 2023. Fire incidents, which are mostly residential, are up by 20.7% in 2023. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1879861/bfp-on-recording-15679-fires-in-2023

A total of 15,679 fire cases have been recorded in the country from January 1 to December 26, 2023, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said on Tuesday.

According to BFP spokesperson Fire Supt. Annalee Atienza, the latest figure is 20.7% higher than the previous year’s total of 12,000.

“The majority of these fire incidents are residential, as this is the problem we observe because residential areas are not covered by the fire code where an annual fire safety inspection is conducted,” said Atienza.

Atienza said the three primary recorded causes of fires are electrical ignition resulting from arching, electrical ignition caused by a loose connection, and fires caused by smoking or a lit cigarette.

With the New Year revelry nearing, Atienza also said that the BFP is currently on “Code Red.”

“In the Code Red status, all of us [in the BFP] need to respond in case our services are required,” said Atienza. “No one is allowed to take leave during this time because the full force of the entire BFP is needed.”

Atienza also said that the BFP has begun spreading fire prevention awareness through roving units and firetruck visibility programs, as well as consistently conducting inspections on manufacturers and sellers of firecrackers.

The BFP has been in “code red” since December 23 and will continue until January 1.

BFP spokesman Atienza notes that the majority of these incidents are residential. Residential fires in the Philippines are often very devastating because houses are compacted together and constructed of light materials. When one goes up the whole neighborhood is wiped out. 

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/regional/2023/12/12/lapu-lapu-cebu-fire-destruction.html

Around 600 houses were totally destroyed in a huge fire that hit a congested neighborhood in Barangay Pusok in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Tuesday afternoon.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan estimated around 20,000 individuals were affected and rendered homeless because of the blaze that began past 1 p.m.

There are no reports of injuries, but most of the residents were not able to save their belongings.

The mayor said it could be the biggest fire ever recorded in Lapu-Lapu City.

Most of the houses in the neighborhood were made of light materials. Some of the houses were on stilts near the shores of the Mactan Channel.

But he also says that residential areas are not covered by the fire code. 

“The majority of these fire incidents are residential, as this is the problem we observe because residential areas are not covered by the fire code where an annual fire safety inspection is conducted,” said Atienza.

It is not clear if this means residential areas are not covered by the fire code in toto or only as it pertains to annual fire safety inspections. 

Whatever the case may be it is a fact that fires in residential areas area on the rise. Why not pass a law that all residential areas must be inspected? The BFP acknowledges that fires in residential areas are on the rise. So why not inspect them? The fact that poor people are allowed to build large incindienary blocks with no oversight is not good.

But the fact is nobody cares. No media is calling this out and no so-called opposition Senators are asking for an investigation as to why fires continue to occur at an alarming rate leaving many homeless. As long as houses made from light, flammable materials without any sort of inspection or expectance to heed to the fire code disasters like whole blocks going up in flames will continue to happen.  

Lack of Fire Safety and Nasty Bathrooms in the Philippines

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection 15 municipalities in the Eastern Visayas do not have their own fire stations which puts the lives and properties of residents at risk. 12 of these municipalities are islands which means they are practically out of reach of any help should a fire occur.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1877484/15-towns-in-eastern-visayas-have-no-fire-stations-says-bfp

A total 15 municipalities in Eastern Visayas do not have their own fire stations, putting at risk the lives and properties of their residents, a Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) official revealed.

Senior Supt. Randy Mendaros, assistant regional director of the BFP, said 12 of these areas are island-municipalities. These are Maripipi in Biliran province; Almagro, Daram, Sto. Niño, Tagapul-an, Talalora, and Zumarraga, all in Samar province; and Biri, Lapinig, Rosario, San Vicente and Victoria in Northern Samar.

The other towns without fire stations and fire equipment are Llorente, General MacArthur, and Mercedes, all in Eastern Samar.

Eastern Visayas has 136 municipalities and seven cities in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar.

The reason for the absence of fire station in these municipalities is because local governments have not donated appropriate lots where they can be constructed. 

The 15 municipalities do not have their own fire stations in the absence of lots, which are supposed to be donated by the local governments, where these can be constructed, Mendaros revealed.

According to Mendaros, the usual practice was for the BFP to build the fire station and provide the equipment on a property donated by the local government unit (LGU).

There were LGUs that were willing to donate lots but in one instance, a property was rejected by the BFP since it was located in a hazard-prone area, he added. In the absence of fire stations in these 15 towns, the nearest fire station must help put out the fire should a fire break in one of these municipalities, said Mendaros.

But because of the distance, the fire trucks were expected to arrive at least 30 minutes at the fire scene and not within the 10-minute ideal response time.

Aside from the lack of fire stations, he revealed there were only 248 firetrucks across the region, 27 of which were not serviceable or under maintenance, while 168 of the 769 fire hydrants across in the region were not functioning.

Do local governments not care about their own constituents or themselves? Why would they donate useless lots to the BFP? Perhaps a wider investigation should be carried out to ensure that these municipalities have proper fire stations and penalize LGUs who burden the process. But in the Philippines it will probably take a barangay captain's house burning down before any decisive action is taken.

Bathrooms in the Philippines are notoriously nasty, foul places. Lack of toilet paper and running water are just two of the problems. Now one Cebu City councilor is calling out Cebu City establishments for this very problem.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/546613/cebu-city-councilor-calls-out-foul-unhygienic-restrooms-of-establishments

“Foul and unhygienic” comfort rooms in various establishments caught the attention of Cebu City Councilor Jun Alcover.

In his privileged speech during the council’s regular session on Wednesday, December 20, he raised concerns about unsanitary comfort rooms in establishments in Cebu City.

"I just want to convey an observation to the establishments in the city, it's a small thing from our point of view but it has a big impact on our visitors; the dirt in the comfort rooms in other establishments,” Alcover stated.

Let's stop here. Why are unhygienic bathrooms a "small thing from our point of view?" Whose point of view is he talking about? Filipinos? Cebu City's? It's an odd thing to say because nasty bathrooms impact everyone who will use them not just visitors.  This man is practically undermining his speech by calling it "a small thing from our point of view."

He noted that the “foul and unhygienic” state of comfort rooms would be a concern as the city will expect an influx of visitors exploring malls and other establishments during this festive season leading up to Christmas and Sinulog in January.

"This is a reflection of how dirty the establishments are, no matter how handsome the outsiders are, if your CRs are dirty, it really reflects the personality of the establishment," he said.

Alcover stressed the need for businesses to recognize that the condition of their comfort rooms reflects the personality and standards of their establishments.

"There is still a hotel, a big hotel, when [I] was there, the comfort room smelled really bad. I went to the parlor, the comfort room was almost ruined. Gas station, perting baao, CR is still broken. Restaurants, comfort rooms are dirty," he stressed.

During his recent rounds in the city, Alcover noted instances of poorly maintained comfort rooms, citing examples of unclean facilities, malfunctioning flush systems, and broken amenities.

These observations were not limited to a single type of business but included hotels, gas stations, and restaurants.

With this, Alcover urged establishments to take responsibility for maintaining the cleanliness of their comfort rooms not only during the holiday season but consistently throughout the year.

He emphasized that collective efforts from both the public and private sectors are crucial to achieving a cleaner and more appealing environment for locals and tourists alike.

Did this man go undercover to various establishments and test out their bathrooms? It's simply too bad he makes this issue one about image. It's about cleanliness and health. Are we not still in the midst of a pandemic where the authorities are carping about following minimal health standards? Bathrooms should be cleaned whether or not visitors from out of town are coming to shop. 

At least he has an action plan. Let's see what it is. 

Moreover, to address the cleanliness concerns raised in his privilege speech, Alcover has proposed a series of actions.

Firstly, he called on business establishments to prioritize and maintain the cleanliness of their comfort rooms, emphasizing the impact it has on the overall impression of the city.

Secondly, he moved to request the Cebu City Health Department (CCHD) to intensify sanitary inspections in major establishments, including malls, tourist spots, and gas stations.

Lastly, he further requested the CCHD to submit a report every 15 days, detailing the results of their sanitary inspections.

Alcover hopes to instigate changes in the cleanliness practices of establishments in Cebu City, creating an environment that aligns with the standards set by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for a cleaner and more organized city, akin to the renowned cleanliness standards of Singapore.

"If all the comfort rooms are clean, we can really reach what the mayor calls Singapore-like [Cebu City]," he said.

Regular inspections by the City Health Department are actually a good idea. But sadly he ends with an appeal to image saying clean comfort rooms will help Cebu City become Singapore-like. I hate to break it to him but Cebu is not going to be like Singapore simply because the bathrooms are clean. Has he been to Singapore? The entire city is clean and their public transportation is leagues apart from any public transportation system in the Philippines. 

It's sad that the image of the city is his primary concern and not the health of residents. Calling out establishments for being disgusting is good but health should be the first concern and not the image of the city. He is right but for all the wrong reasons. 

Filipinos Love Burning Garbage

 Filipinos love burning garbage. 

What is the reason behind this phenomenon? The fact is the garbage truck comes twice a week. How hard is it for people to collect all their garbage, toss it in a bag or box, and have it carted away? Obviously it's not difficult to gather the garbage and place it in a burn pile. Why not place it in a bag and put it in a safe place until the garbage truck comes?

But instead Filipinos would rather put it all in a pile and light it on fire. Why? It's not as if the weak flame they light incinerates the garbage. Rather, it burns down and a pile of trash is left behind. And it stinks up the neighborhood something awful. 

In this case water was dumped all over the pile extinguishing the fire but leaving a nasty smoke. 

There is nothing more upsetting than enjoying the nice cool breeze blowing through the open window, getting a whiff of smoke, and having to shut every window and door in the house so you don't suffocate. And even then 

the yellow smoke that slides along the street,

Rubbing its back upon the window-panes;

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock

still finds it way inside. 

T-Shirt Factory Destroyed in Fire

 A fire at a T-shirt factory has killed 16 people and destroyed the business. 

https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/15-dead-as-fire-blazes-residential-area-in-tandang-sora-quezon-city

A fire broke out in a residential area being used as warehouse in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City, on Thursday morning, leaving a total of 15 deaths, including a three-month-old child.

According to RH Val Gonzales, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported that the fire blazed at around 5:00 a.m. early morning, and the fatalities were found beyond recognition, and there are still three who fortunately survived.

Moreover, the casualties were still being identified by the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Scene of Crime Operations (SOCO) division personnel.

Based on the incident report from the BFP, the fire started at around 5:30 a.m. and was raised to its first alarm at 5:44 a.m.

It was declared under control at 6:28 a.m. and was officially fired out by 8:04 a.m.

According to BFP NCR Director FCSupt. Nahum Tarroza, there are highly combustible materials inside the establishment, including paints and other materials.

Tarroza added that they also found many working violations, which included the lack of permits as well as a small area that large machines being used in the production of clothes could not fit in.

Furthermore, Brgy. Tandang Sora said that the T-shirt factory just had its permits renewed last month.

The volume of acceptances at the factory appeared to be high as it operated despite an incomplete working permit.

Meanwhile, the BFP is conducting a thorough investigation into the fatal incident that killed 15 people.

Whoops!  It turns out this "factory" and "warehouse" is actually just a regular old house in a RESIDENTIAL AREA. It also had no proper permits though it was in the process of RENEWING its permits. Who the heck granted this business a permit to operate as a t-shirt factory in a residential area?  They need to be held accountable. 

Let's read another report of this same incident. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/31/15-dead-as-fires-hits-building-in-qc

At least 15 workers died when they were trapped in a fire that gutted a two-storey residential-commercial building housing a t-shirt factory in Pleasant View Subdvision, Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City on Thursday morning, Aug. 31.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire status was raised to first alarm at around 5:30 a.m. and was declared under control at around 6:44 a.m.

The blaze was extinguished at around 8:04 a.m.

Authorities have yet to disclose the amount of damage to property caused by the blaze as well as the number of families/individuals affected.

The BFP and Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (QCDRRMO) personnel retrieved the bodies of the victim after responders were able to put out the fire.

In an interview, BFP Regional Director Chief Supt. Nahum B. Tarozza said that following their inspection, they found out that the commercial building only has one entrance and exit door and the t-shirt printing business operating inside it has no fire safety permit. 

He said that the 15 fatalities, who were personnel of the t-shirt printing business, were staying at the rooms at the back part of the building when the incident happened. Their names have not been disclosed. 

He added that the victims allegedly attempted to escape but failed. Their bodies were found outside their rooms. 

The BFP chief said that the fire allegedly originated from the old office of the business which was located on the first floor of the building according to the witness, while some of the materials used for the t-shirt printing are flammable such as paint and plastic. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“The local government of Quezon City expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and relatives of the victims of the fire in a building in Barangay Tandang Sora this morning,” the city governement said.

It said the City Social Services Development Department (SSDD) is now coordinating with the families of the deceased victims to provide them with assistance.

“Currently, the Department of Building Official (DBO) and Business Permit and Licensing Department (BPLD) are checking if the business using the establishment has enough permits and documents. Among the things to be investigated is if there is a violation of the National Building Code, Fire Code of the Philippines, zoning ordinance, business permit, occupancy permit and other laws and ordinances,” the local government said.

“We would like to assure the public, especially the families of the victims, that we will give priority to a thorough investigation to hold accountable the agencies or individuals who made the mistake that caused this incident, along with the implementation of additional measures and policies to prevent it from happening again in the future,” it added.

Now we get some more details. The building had only ONE ENTRANCE AND EXIT and NO FIRE SAFETY PERMITS! The "Department of Building Official (DBO) and Business Permit and Licensing Department (BPLD)" is checking to see if there were violations of "the National Building Code, Fire Code of the Philippines, zoning ordinance, business permit, occupancy permit and other laws and ordinances."

Obviously there were such violations. But on a positive note it appears there were no bars on the second floor windows. At least they have not indicated that is the case. It's another area that warrants investigation.

Finally, one more story about this situation.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/31/23/16-dead-in-tandang-sora-fire

Sixteen people, including a 3-year-old girl, were killed in a first-alarm fire that ravaged a house converted to a t-shirt manufacturing establishment in Tandang Sora, Quezon City on Thursday morning, authorities said.

Fire Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza of the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region said on TeleRadyo Serbisyo the house on Kennedy Lane was undergoing expansion when the fire struck on the first floor of the house. He said chemicals used for t-shirt printing could have caused the fire to spread rapidly.

The owners of the house and their 3-year-old child were among the fatalities. Most of the fatalities were stay-in workers, the fire official said. 

Three survived the fire including Mariafe Parle, an all-around maid of the owner. She said that they were in deep sleep when the fire broke out and she escaped through a window.

She even tried to rescue the girl who was carried by her mother, but she had difficulty breathing. Parle sustained injuries on her hands and feet from jumping off the window.

Another survivor recalled that it was difficult for them to locate the front door, which is the only way out of the house.

Tarroza said they would launch an investigation into the fire after they learned that the house had no permits to operate. The house has yet to secure a fire safety inspection certification from the BFP.

Firefighters took too long to respond to the fire after they were given the wrong address, Tarroza said. Heavy floods in parts of Quezon City also impeded fire trucks from reaching the area quickly.

Since the maid jumped out of the window it is established that at least that particular window did not have bars. 

It is also noted that most of the fatalities lived at the job site. That is a real problem in the Philippines. No one should be living at their job. It is simply inconceivable that anyone is living in a factory. 

And for the coup de grace we learnt that the firefighters were given the wrong address which resulted in them arriving too late. 

What a horrorshow. Everything wrong with the Philippines is contained in the story. The reappropriation of residential areas as industrial/business areas. Workers forced to live in the factory. No regard for safety. 

No regard for safety is the key here. It seems as if everything in this nation is jury-rigged. I can say with confidence this is not the first such tragedy nor will it be the last. 

The PNP Do not Enforce the Law Against Open Burning Equally

The Philippines is a lawless nation. Sure there are laws in the Philippines but they are followed and enforced at will. Case in point is RA 9003 which prohibits the burning of open waste. The PNP is using this law to prosecute the burning of an effigy during the 2023 SONA protests.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1820884/qcpd-goes-after-artist-behind-marcos-effigy-burned-at-sona

Looks like the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is going hard on “polluters” — or at least the politically active kind.

The resident artist of the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) received a subpoena on Wednesday asking him to appear before the Office of the City Prosecutor to answer a complaint from the QCPD that accused him of causing air pollution.

It was in connection with an effigy created by Max Santiago and set on fire during a Bayan protest action in Quezon City that was directed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 24.

Santiago was the artist behind the papier mache artwork titled “Doble Kara (Two-faced),” which depicted a giant gold coin with a dual image of the president — a visual swipe at the Marcos ill-gotten wealth cases.

The QCPD complaint, initiated by Staff Sgt. Mario Sembrano and Cpl. Paolo Navarro of the Anonas Police Station, alleged that the burning of the effigy during the Bayan rally “lasted for several minutes and greatly contributed to air pollution which grossly negates the government program in ensuring the protection of public health and the environment.”

The officers’ three-page joint affidavit asked that Santiago and three “John Does’’ be penalized for violating the Clean Air Act (Republic Act No. 8749) and Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003).

It further accused Santiago and the unnamed Bayan activists of committing “a deliberate disrespect to the president and to the country” and explained that the QCPD was taking legal action “for them to not be imitated by other demonstrators and other citizens.”

This phrase is key:

“A deliberate disrespect to the president and to the country." 

But wait, what?  These kinds of protests, burning effigies of politicians have been going on for years. Why should a Marcos change anything?

Lawyers have jumped into the fray telling the PNP to cool it and study the intent of the law. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1821160/effigies-as-pollutants-police-told-to-study-law-they-used-to-sue-activists

Effigies have been regular fixtures in protest rallies, including those that activists hold when the highest official of the land, the President, delivers the State of the Nation Address (Sona).

According to Raymond Palatino, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), using effigies during demonstrations is constitutionally protected and part of the right to dissent.

Dr. Maria Ela Atienza, professor of political science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, said the burning of effigies has long been part of protests all over the world, and that in the Philippines, “there is freedom to protest based on our laws.”

“Government officials can be criticized and held accountable,” she told INQUIRER.net.

Looking back, former presidents, like Gloria Magacapagal-Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III, and Rodrigo Duterte, had seen how effigies bearing their likeness were set on fire by protesters criticizing government neglect, especially of the poor.

But this year, the burning of the “Doble Kara” effigy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was met by a complaint, with the police saying that it was in violation of two environmental laws.

Palatino, however, said the law is being “misused.”

“Authorities are misusing the law to criminalize freedom of expression. We will challenge this harassment suit since it could set a dangerous precedent,” he said on Wednesday (Aug. 23).

As alleged by the complainants, the burning of the effigy last July 24 was in violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and RA No. 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.

RA No. 9003 prohibits the open space burning of solid waste “defined as all discarded household, commercial waste, non-hazardous institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural waste, and other non-hazardous/non-toxic waste.”

But Terry Ridon, a public policy lawyer, said what the law prohibits is the “open burning of solid waste,” and that in any circumstance, “works of art such as effigies cannot be considered solid waste.”

Palatino said “we will challenge this harassment suit since it could set a dangerous precedent,” stressing that “we will not allow the police to dictate what forms of expression can be done in exercising our right to dissent.”

"A dangerous precedent" to "our right to dissent?" Who cares? Dissent never changes anything.

What's most important to note here is that the PNP wants to prosecute the burning of this effigy while people across the nation burn their garbage with impunity. That means this particular protection of the law is 100% politically motivated. 

The fact is the Philippines stinks. Air pollution is a way of life here even way out in the provinces. There is always a tendril of smoke ready to make its way to your nostril from some hidden burn pile. From charcoal pits to burn pits the air in the Philippines is choking and hardly fresh. If only the PNP did their job and enforced the law uniformly this nation might smell a lot fresher. 

Iloilo Fire Prevention Efforts Won't Prevent Fires

There have been several fires in Iloilo and the authorities have decided to step in to prevent any more from happening. Let's take a look at their methods.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199647

About 84 of the 180 barangays in Iloilo City are susceptible to fire and 14,226 households in those areas are still using illegal connections, an official of an electric power distribution company here said on Tuesday.

Iloilo City targets zero fire incidents with the implementation of the Integrated Approach to Fire Prevention program initiated by the local government, distribution utility More Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and concerned stakeholders.

To prevent fires due to illegal connections, a team consisting of representatives of the city engineer’s office and office of the building official of the city government, safety officers and community relations officers of MORE Power, and personnel of the BFP visit target barangays for the inspection. 

“More Power has deployed safety officers to do the electrical safety orientation and community relations officers to talk about applying for legal connection, while the BFP discusses how to eliminate and prevent fire in day-to-day living. Our technical team join the city engineers’ office and the office of the building official for the actual inspection,” MORE Power vice president for customer care and project head Maricel Pe-Calunod said in an interview. 

She said a team has been visiting target barangays daily since the launch of the program in Barangay Alalasan in Lapuz district last week.

A lecture and inspection covering secondary lines, service drops, metering facilities, and flying and loop connections are done in a day.

With the inspection, they hope to ensure that all service lines are jumper-free, old Elevated Metering Centers and over-extended low-lying wires are rehabilitated, fire safety through community involvement is institutionalized, and households with no connections be regularized through the MORE Konek program. 

“The reason why our community relations officers are joining the team is to encourage new applications otherwise, their use of jumper will lead to fire due to overload,” she added.

Early this month, Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, in a privilege speech at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, attributed many fire incidents in the city to electrical problems, such as illegal connections, tapping, unauthorized load side connections, and substandard wirings that lead to overloading. 

He said 186 of the 300 houses in Barangays West Habog-Habog and San Juan that were burned down during what could be the biggest fire in the city have no legal connections.

Ha, ha, ha!! Wow. These people think doing a visual inspection and having a talk with these residents will stop fires?  NO! They are poor and cannot afford legal hook-ups. Too bad for them but the best thing to do is to TEAR THE ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS DOWN.  Full Stop. The only way to prevent these fires is to totally eradicate their source.  Why won't the city do that? Muh feelings?

I mean look how stupid they are being.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/18/integrated-approach-to-curb-fires-in-iloilo-city-launched

“The fire incidents in Iloilo City are mostly preventable and due to illegal electric connections,” added Treñas.

In January, 300 houses were gutted in a fire in Barangays West Habog-Habog and San Juan in Molo District and 186 had no electric meters.

Iloilo City Couuncilor Sedfrey Cabaluna had earlier revealed that more than 14,000 households do not have legal electrical connections.

With the program, the city government and the BFP are encouraging residents to avail of legal connections through the MORE Konek program.

They admit the fires are preventable and their solution is to encourage residents to avail of legal connections??  JUST TAKE THEM ALL DOWN!! That is the answer. Even if it is harmful it will prevent fires.