An ordinance requiring all establishments to have a public safety and security announcement system is now up for third and final reading.
On Tuesday, the measure was endorsed by public safety and security committee chair councilor Maria Belen Sunga Acosta in response to the letter coming from Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) deputy head Angel Sumagaysay seeking to require all establishments to have a public address system.
The PA system shall be used to announce in a persuasive and audible manner the safety tips on what to do during emergencies and the procedures leading to all emergency units.
According to Acosta, the ordinance aims to ensure public safety by raising awareness on disaster prevention protocols in order to take a more proactive stance in the matter.
“Having a public address system is not something new,” she said during an ambush interview at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The councilor cited other local government units have already implemented the same order.
The ordinance shall cover all establishments with a total floor area of the building, or at least 2,790 square meters.
These include convergence establishments such as cinemas, conference rooms, places of worships, passenger stations and recreational actives such as gyms, cockpits and the like. Educational, medical and commercial establishments are also covered by the ordinance.
The ordinance also requires the announcement of safety and security protocol shall be made at least three times throughout the operational hours of the establishment.
Establishment owners who will not comply with the ordinance will be penalized for first offense of P3,000 fine, while a fine of P5,000 and/or imprisonment of three months at the discretion of the court will be for the second offense. For third offense, a fine of P5,000 and/or imprisonment of six months at the discretion of the court and revocation of business permits will be penalized.
Acosta said that the ordinance will no longer need an implementing rules and regulations (IRR) since it is a general safety precaution method.
