BFP Aklan Crackdowns Erring Boarding Houses

By boy ryan b. zabal

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Aklan has intensified its inspection to ensure compliance with Fire Code safety standards of boarding houses in Kalibo, Aklan.
Two weeks before the opening of classes, SFO4 Darius Melgarejo, Administrative chief of BFP Aklan, appealed to boarding house owners to comply with the requirements of the building and fire code by installing fire safety provisions or face closure.
There are 28 boarding houses which were recommended by BFP Aklan for temporary closure, according to Melgarejo. He stressed, Mayor Raymar Rebaldo is closely coordinating with BFP Aklan and the Kalibo Fire Station for the crackdown of erring boarding house owners to comply with fire safety provisions in the densely populated areas where college students normally stay.
"We could prevent disasters on those boarding houses with no adequate fire exits and safety devices if student boarders report to us the violations of the owners or the boarding houses," he added.
Among the violations noted (during the inspection) were substandard electrical wiring, cramped rented rooms and inadequate bathrooms and water facilities. BFP Aklan, he added, is monitoring the violations of some restaurant owners in the Kalibo Public Market who clearly violates the municipal ordinance.
Under the law, BFP is mandated to recommend the closure of any establishment or boarding houses found violating the provisions of the law on fire safety measures, Melgarejo pointed out.
Chief Insp. Dennis Daymon, provincial fire marshal, said boarding houses and student occupants in C. Laserna area, Quezon Avenue, Oyo Torong Street and Brgy. Estancia and those within the vicinity of colleges and high schools are inspected for the safety of students and residents.
"Some house owners disclosed the students renting their rooms are their relatives when the task force conducted the inspection," Melgarejo said.
Aklan Police Director’s Relief Is False
Meanwhile, Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana, Jr. laughed off reports of his relief as acting police director of the Aklan Provincial Police Office (APPO). The report that some chiefs of police are not satisfied of Durana’s "transformation program" and policies for the APPO’s uniformed and non-uniformed personnel is false.
Durana, a member of Class 1988 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), urged policemen to support his programs - wear helmets while driving motorcycle, refrain from going to cockpit arenas and beerhouses, conduct daily morning prayer and wear proper uniforms while on duty."The misgivings of some chiefs of police are purely hearsay relief order is untrue," Durana stressed.
The Aklan APPO has 18 police stations in 17 towns, including the Boracay Special Tourist Protection Office in the famous island of Boracay.
Durana, who assumed his post on January 13, 2007 is strongly implementing the PNP’s transformation program to maintain peace and order in the barangays, supports the tourism policies of the provincial government, provides a customer service desk in every police station and conducts trainings on customer skills service to his men.
Durana, a Metrobank Foundation Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (Cops) 2005 recipient, underwent a six-month strategic management training course with the London police involving criminal investigation, handling of hostages and other crisis situations, and counter terrorism last year.
"Whether at the height of challenge or celebration, I will be here for all of you in times of victory not just as acting police director but as a father and a fellow servant of God and the people," he pointed out.
Durana, before his assignment in Aklan, was the chief of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer) based in Metro Manila.He led police operations to neutralize the Ilonggo-Waray robbery and kidnap-for-ransom group and the most wanted mastermind of the Calauag massacre.
Durana also worked with the Office of the Chief Directorial Staff, PNP Camp Crame in 2005, headed the PNP’s Transformation Program during the stint of PNP chief Arturo Lomibao. /MP