Press Release
November 7, 2007

Gordon presses stricter inspection of malls

Senator Richard Gordon said that owners of commercial establishments like shopping malls should undertake concerted efforts with government public safety offices to avert a repeat of the Glorietta Mall explosion in Makati City .

Gordon said that based on his personal observations, the potential for accidents at basement parking areas, as well as the service areas of food courts in shopping malls, are really big.

"I'm not talking about explosions alone, but also the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning at basement parking areas, and gas leaks at the kitchen of fastfood establishments, especially those clustered at so-called food courts," said Gordon.

The senator said local government units (LGUs), as well as such offices like the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and public safety, have the responsibility to regularly inspect buildings for compliance with the fire code and similar safety requirements.

"I, for one, am worried about the health of people working at parking basements, since they are exposed to noxious fumes like carbon monoxide. For this reason, these areas should also be regularly checked for levels of pollutants," he said.

"They must have proper ventilations, noxious gas detectors and easily accessible exits," Gordon stressed.

He observed that the basements of commercial buildings are also often used as repository of wastes, judging from the garbage trucks that descend on them during closing hours.

"So, at the very least, these areas can really be hazardous to health. I think the time has come to widen the scope of the inspections that are conducted in such establishments, to include not only potential fire hazards but also the presence of pollutants," he said.

Meanwhile, Gordon supported the thinking of US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney that the Philippines would have a much bigger problem in hand if the Glorietta blast would turn out to be the handiwork of terrorists.

"That's quite right. It would be an altogether different scenario if the blast was not caused by an accident like the gas explosion theorized by the police, and foreign experts, including those cited by Ambassador Kenney," said Gordon.

But if only to put the issue to rest whether the explosion was accidental or not, Gordon reiterated his position for an independent investigation to be conducted.

"We have the Ayala experts saying that it was not gas explosion, and we have the experts who worked with the PNP saying it was an accident. So we do not know which supposed experts to believe anymore," he said.

The Glorietta explosion that ripped through at least three floors killed 11 people and wounded scores of others.

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