Ever since a popular local mall opened its doors a few years ago there has been a major fire hazard right at the entrance. When you walk in you are greeted with a huge set of stairs which are flanked on either wide with escalators, one going up and one going down. The stairs cannot be used as they are obstructed at the top and then bottom by vendors.
Sometimes you cannot use the escalators either as they are under repair. The second set of stairs is around the corner in the back. While it is a hassle to have to walk way to the back just to go upstairs that hassle is not the real problem with this situation.
The real problem is that this obstruction is a blatant violation of RA 9514 which is the Philippines' Fire Code.
SECTION 8. Prohibited Acts. ‑ The following are declared as prohibited act and omission:
a. Obstructing or blocking the exit ways or across to buildings clearly marked for fire safety purposes, such as but not limited to aisles in interior rooms, any part of stairways, hallways, corridors, vestibules, balconies or bridges leading to a stairway or exit of any kind, or tolerating or allowing said violations;
Why were those stairs built in the first place if they aren't going to be used? If there was a fire there would be no easy way out. People would crowd the escalator, if it wasn't being repaired, or they would have to flock all the way to the back of the building to the other set of narrow stairs.
How can this mall pass a fire code examination when this set of stairs has been illegally obstructed since the beginning? This situation has been ongoing for 4 years now. One can only speculate as to what transactions are taking place behind the scenes to the detriment of the public but we can be confident that such activities are taking place. If not then the fire inspector is either blind as a bat or ignorant of the fire code!
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