Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla has issued a strong warning against corrupt fire personnel engaging in the illegal sale of fire extinguishers to business owners seeking fire safety clearances.
“Fire marshals are strictly prohibited from selling fire extinguishers. If you encounter this, report it to me immediately, and I will remove them on the spot,” Remulla stated.
Recalling his time as Cavite governor, Remulla condemned such unethical practices, including the endorsement of contractors for fire sprinklers.
“I was furious about this before—it’s a scam. Why make it harder for businesses that provide jobs, just so you can profit off them?” he said.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Memorandum Circular 2016-016 explicitly prohibits BFP personnel from selling fire extinguishers or endorsing manufacturers, dealers, or suppliers of firefighting equipment.
Remulla made these remarks during an interfacing activity with Cebu’s local chief executives (LCEs) at the provincial capitol on Wednesday. He urged LCEs to encourage business owners to report corrupt BFP personnel who delay the issuance of fire clearances for personal gain.
“Mayors, please encourage business owners to file an ARTA complaint. If the clearance process takes more than a week, file the complaint, and I will personally ensure these personnel are disciplined,” he emphasized.
Under Republic Act No. 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 working days.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has previously directed all government agencies to streamline their services and eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies.