BACOLOD CITY – Business groups in Bacolod City have appealed to President Benigno S. Aquino III to exempt existing structures from the provision in the Republic Act 9514 or the Comprehensive Fire Code of the Philippines that requires the installation of automatic fire suppression system (AFSS) or sprinkler system in buildings.

Architect Ramiro Garcia, chairman of the Bacolod ad hoc committee on the Fire Code of the Philippines, said in an interview that setting up a sprinkler system entails millions of pesos and could lead a number of business establishments to close shop.

He said for existing buildings, the installation of an AFSS will cost P4 million to P5 million, double than the P2 million to P2.5 million expense for new buildings.

"We recently received a notice from the Bureau of Fire Protection reminding us that on Feb. 13, 2013, we will not be issued permits if we don't have sprinkler systems," Garcia said.

When President Aquino came to the province last weekend, streamers that read, "By February 14, 2013, business in Bacolod will die, Mr. President, please help us," were displayed by various business groups in Bacolod.

The appeal was made by Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Negros Occidental Filipino-Chinese Amity Club Inc., Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental, Chamber of Real Estate Builders' Association-Bacolod Chapter, Philippine Retailers Association-Bacolod Chapter, and United Architects of the Philippines-Bacolod Chapter.

The seven groups are asking that the automatic sprinkler system be required only for new buildings and structures, but not for existing buildings and structures.

Garcia said that he and business sector representatives Crispin Chua and Elbert Valencia, with Mayor Evelio Leonardia, met with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo last Saturday in Talisay City after the Liberal Party provincial convention.

"Secretary Robredo told us it seems only us here in Bacolod are complaining, Garcia said. "I told him, probably in other cities, they are in lenient."

Robredo advised the Bacolod businessmen to channel their petition through the federations of their respective associations.

Garcia said the business groups have tasked him to come up with a primer on the effects of the provision, including which buildings would be affected, and they will distribute copies to business organizations in other cities.

"(Secretary Robredo) told us if more chambers (of commerce) will request for it, he will extend the moratorium. Meantime, he said, work with your congressman to amend the law," he added.

In June last year, the Department of Interior and Local Government announced that building owners have been given two years to install fire sprinkler systems.*NLG