The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Mindful of March as Fire Prevention Month, Interior Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento has urged local government units (LGUs) to implement stricter rules in the issuance of building and construction permits.
“To alleviate, if not totally prevent, fires due to electrical overloading, faulty wiring, and other electrical issues, all local chief executives (LCEs) are strongly urged to be stricter in issuing building and construction permits,” Sarmiento said.
He said that, under the Philippine Electrical Code, LCEs should primarily require electrical plans that include design analysis to all applicants for the said permits, and ensure that those with existing buildings, factories, and infrastructure have their respective updated design analysis and calculations.
The design analysis, he also said, must show the calculation of short circuit currents and voltage drop, among others.
The secretary pointed out that the compliance of business owners with fire-safety measures and the supervision of LGUs for public security is in line with the theme of Fire Prevention Month that says, “Kaalaman at Pagtutulungan ng Sambayanan, Kaligtasan ay Makakamtan.”
Moreover, Sarmiento reiterated to LGUs their roles in relation to Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), as specified in the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission.
The implementing rules of RA 9136 reads: “Any application or petition for rate adjustment or for any relief affecting the consumers must be verified, and accompanied with an acknowledgment of receipt of a copy thereof by the LGU Legislative Body of the locality where the applicant or petitioner principally operates, together with the certification of the notice of publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in the same locality.”
Sarmiento ordered the strict compliance with the abovementioned provisions of the law, and the proper attendance of local government representatives to ERC hearings.