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Republic of the Philippines PE ure. 27 FEB

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TIME
Quezon City 0, BY:
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS : x
Second Regular Session INDEX
HOUSE BILL no, 7279

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Before 2017 finally closed, a mall in Davao City was engulfed in fire killing 38 call
center employees. One week into 2018, another fire broke out in a Cebu City mall
which took 180 firefighters and 40 hours to put out. The combined monetary cost of
these two incidents, mere 10 days apart, is estimated to be between P100 million to
half a billion pesos.

Fires remain a serious threat that occur by thousands in this country every year. They
do not only cause unforeseen economic blows, but also claim the lives and properties
of our people. The aforementioned mall fires in Cebu and Davao cause serious alarm
as these were establishments with known fire exits and ample signage. Additionally,
the employees were supposed to be familiar with the office layout and exit doors.
Science explains that fire requires oxygen to combust, instantaneously robbing victims
of the oxygen level they need to be able to think clearly and focus.

This bill intends first to safeguard the most vulnerable in instances of fire — our youth.
We shall protect our school children from injuries or deaths from fire by requiring the
disclosure of information with respect to campus fire safety practices and standards of
all public and private academic institutions.

Schools shall be mandated to disclose to their students and employees a detailed
summary of all educational facilities including student housing facilities, with a
statement of whether or not the facilities are equipped with a fire sprinkler system or


any other fire safety system, or both. They shall also be required to provide statistics
regarding fire occurrence such as cause, casualties and/or injuries. These reports
shall be submitted to the Secretary of Education, who in turn, shall furnish Congress
with a comprehensive summary of all reports from schools.

Survival lies in planning and practice. This bill seeks to ensure that the government is
apprised of the situation of our schools, and their readiness in case of fire occurrence.
Ultimately, the data generated and updated annually shall help the government draft

more responsive measures for fire prevention and control.

In consideration of the foregoing, the swift passage of this bill is humbly sought.

LUIS RAY! D “LI F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILL No.7279

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY DISCLOSURE OF FIRE SAFETY
STANDARDS AND MEASURES IN CAMPUS BUILDINGS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Campus Fire Safety Right-
to-Know Act of 2018.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
understood to mean as follows:

1. “Chairman” refers to the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education;

2. “CHED" refers to the Commission on Higher Education.

SECTION 3. Disclosure of Fire Safety Standards and Measures in Campus
Buildings. — All public and private educational institutions shall, beginning in the
Academic Year 2018-2019, and each year thereafter, prepare, publish and distribute,
through appropriate publications or mailings to all current students and employees and
to any applicant for enrolment or employment upon request, an annual Fire Safety
Report containing at least the following information with respect to their campus fire
safety practices and standards:
A. A detailed summary of all educational facilities including student housing
facilities of the institution, if any, with a statement of whether or not the facilities


are equipped with a fire sprinkler system or any other fire safety system, or
both.

B. If available, statistics concerning the occurrence on campus during the two (2)
preceding calendar year of fires and false alarms in the subject facilities.

C. For each such occurrence, a statement of the human injuries or deaths, and
the structural damage caused by the occurrence.

D. Information regarding fire alarms, smoke alarms, the presence of adequate fire
escape planning or protocols, rules on portable electrical appliances, smoking
and open flames (such as candles), regular mandatory supervised fire drills,
and planned and future improvement in fire safety.

E. Preventive steps and/or programs and other fire safety undertaken by the
educational institution concerned to curb and mitigate fire hazards.

SECTION 4. Autonomy of Educations/Institutions. — Nothing in the previous
section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary of the Department of Education
and/or the Chairman, when applicable, to require particular policies, procedures, or
practices by educational institutions with respect to fire safety.

SECTION 5. Periodic Reports. — Each institution covered by this Act shall make
periodic reports to the campus community on fires and false alarms which are reported
to local fire departments in a manner that will aid the prevention of similar occurrences.

SECTION 6. Reports to the Secretary of Education and/or Chairman. — On an
annual basis, each institution covered by this Act shall submit to the Secretary of
Education or any of his duly authorized representative, in the cases of primary and
secondary educational institutions and the Chairman or any of his duly authorized
representative, in the cases of tertiary educational institutions, a copy of the
information required to be disclosed under Section 3 hereof. Thereafter, the Secretary
of Education and the Chairman, in proper cases, shall:


A. Review such statistics;
B. Make copies of statistics available to the public; and

C. In coordination with representatives of the institutions concerned, identify
exemplary fire and safety policies, procedures, and practices and disseminate
information concerning those policies, procedures and practices that have been
proven effective in the reduction of campus fires.

SECTION 7. Report to Congress by the Secretary of Education and/or Chairman
of CHED. — Within one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of
Education and/or Chairman of the CHED, in proper cases, shall prepare and submit
to the Congress a report containing the following:

‘A. An analysis of the current status of the fire safety systems in all educational
facilities covered by this Act;

B. An analysis of the appropriate fire safety standards to apply to these facilities,
which the Secretary of Education and/or the Chairman, in proper cases, shall
prepare after consultation with such fire safety experts, representative of
educational institutions, and other government agencies as the Secretary of
Education and/or Chairman, considers appropriate;

C. An estimate of the cost of bringing all nonconforming dormitories and other
campus buildings up to current building codes; and

D. Recommendations concerning the best means of meeting fire safety standards
in all facilities, including recommendations for methods to fund such cost.

SECTION 8. Lead Agency. - The Department of Education shall be the lead
government agency tasked to implement this Act.


SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education
shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations to enforce the provisions
of this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days from the enactment of this law.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,