A warehouse in Paso de Blas, Valenzuela. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News.

MANILA – Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian on Friday said the local government is intensifying its efforts to inspect industrial and commercial buildings in the city following a huge fire that engulfed a warehouse facility. 

Gatchalian said the city has established a Taskforce Disiplina consisting of building and fire officials to ensure compliance with building, electrical, and sanitary protocols in the 15,000 industrial and commercial establishments in Valenzuela. 

“Talaga pong we exert all effort in going around the city and checking everything para ho nakakaiwas tayo [sa sunog],” the mayor said. 

Gatchalian advised officials responsible for facility management to take additional precautions to prevent fire incidents. 

“Nananawagan ho ako sa lahat po ng ating factory and warehousing establishments to please check their electrical wirings and mechanical wirings ng mga makina – ito po ‘yong pinaka-prevention na magagawa natin,” he said. 

“Pangalawa po, of course, ‘yong mga fire extinguisher natin, mga sprinklers natin, to make sure to have it tested,” he added. 

A third-alarm fire broke out at a two-story kitchenware warehouse in Barangay Paso de Blas on Friday afternoon. It took almost 17 hours before the Bureau of Fire Protection was able to declare the blaze under control. Authorities could not give immediate details on the cause of the fire.

“Talagang warehousing sila eh, so there’s no manufacturing, there’s no welding or electrical… it’s purely warehouse at ito po’y imported goods I think from China na mga plastic products and kitchen products so hindi malinaw ho saan nanggaling ‘yong sunog,” said Gatchalian. 

“Kaya ho ito naging medyo matagal at visible if you pass by NLEX kasi plastic products ho [ang lamang ng warehouse], ‘yong plastic products talaga hong matagal mapatay at saka ‘yong smoke is itim na itim,” he added.

RUBBISH FIRE

BFP-Valenzuela officials declined for interview on this matter. 

Meanwhile, Gatchalian said rubbish fires are also a common occurrence in Valenzuela City.

Two separate incidents were recorded in Barangay Lingunan and Balangka on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

“Nanawagan ho ako sa mga kababayan ho natin na huwag hong magtatapon ng sigarilyo, huwag hong magsisiga kahit tingin niyo, maliit lang ‘yon,” Gatchalian said