BFP personnel warned vs selling fire extinguisher
INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday issued a strong warning against corrupt practices within the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), particularly the illegal sale of fire extinguishers by fire personnel to business owners securing fire safety clearances. Remulla said that such activities are strictly prohibited and urged the public to report any violations immediately. "Fire marshals are not allowed to sell fire extinguishers, and if there are any doing so, report them to me immediately, and I will remove them on the spot," he told local chief executives during his visit to Cebu earlier this week for an interfacing activity at the provincial capital. Remulla recalled his time as Cavite governor when he took action against fire personnel engaged in similar illegal practices. He said he personally reprimanded those who sold fire extinguishers and endorsed contractors for fire sprinkler systems, calling these actions unfair and burdensome for businesses. "I am really angry about that... It's nonsense. Why make business owners' lives harder? They're providing jobs, and yet you just want to make money off them," he said, expressing frustration over the unnecessary obstacles imposed on business owners. BFP Memorandum Circular 2016-016 explicitly prohibits fire personnel from engaging in the sale of fire extinguishers and from endorsing manufacturers, dealers, or suppliers of firefighting equipment. Remulla called on local chief executives to encourage business owners to report erring BFP personnel who delay fire safety clearances or engage in unethical practices. He specifically urged them to file complaints under the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) if their fire safety documents are unnecessarily delayed. "Mayors, please encourage business owners to file an ARTA complaint. If the delay exceeds one week, they should file an ARTA complaint, and I will personally ensure that they are disciplined," he said. Under Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law, the BFP is required to issue the Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance (FSEC) and Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) within seven (7) working days. Any delays beyond this period without valid justification constitute a violation of the law.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday issued a strong warning against corrupt practices within the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), particularly the illegal sale of fire extinguishers by fire personnel to business owners securing fire safety clearances.
Remulla said that such activities are strictly prohibited and urged the public to report any violations immediately.
"Fire marshals are not allowed to sell fire extinguishers, and if there are any doing so, report them to me immediately, and I will remove them on the spot," he told local chief executives during his visit to Cebu earlier this week for an interfacing activity at the provincial capital.
Remulla recalled his time as Cavite governor when he took action against fire personnel engaged in similar illegal practices. He said he personally reprimanded those who sold fire extinguishers and endorsed contractors for fire sprinkler systems, calling these actions unfair and burdensome for businesses.
"I am really angry about that... It's nonsense. Why make business owners' lives harder? They're providing jobs, and yet you just want to make money off them," he said, expressing frustration over the unnecessary obstacles imposed on business owners.
BFP Memorandum Circular 2016-016 explicitly prohibits fire personnel from engaging in the sale of fire extinguishers and from endorsing manufacturers, dealers, or suppliers of firefighting equipment.
Remulla called on local chief executives to encourage business owners to report erring BFP personnel who delay fire safety clearances or engage in unethical practices. He specifically urged them to file complaints under the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) if their fire safety documents are unnecessarily delayed.
"Mayors, please encourage business owners to file an ARTA complaint. If the delay exceeds one week, they should file an ARTA complaint, and I will personally ensure that they are disciplined," he said.
Under Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law, the BFP is required to issue the Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance (FSEC) and Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) within seven (7) working days. Any delays beyond this period without valid justification constitute a violation of the law.
