QC: Owners misdeclared business in house that caught fire

The local government of Quezon City has discovered several violations by the t-shirt printing business which operated in the house that caught fire in the Tandang Sora area on Thursday.

At a press briefing, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte the business owners registered their trade as a trading company for clothes located at a 15-square-meter office.

Investigation showed that they were also engaged in manufacturing and t-shirt printing in a 200-square-meter structure.

"Maraming misdeclaration. Misdeclaration on the area of the business…of the number of employees…of the business activity,” the mayor said. 

(They had a lot of misdeclarations. Misdeclaration on the area of their business, number of employees, and business activity.)

“Ang pwedeng maging liability o kaso ay doon sa remaining members ng corporation…Among the possible cases na pwedeng i-file ay reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, violation of labor laws,” she added. 

(Those who can be held liable for this are the remaining members of the corporation. The possible cases against them are reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violation of labor laws.)

Fifteen people, including one of the company owners, died in the fire that hit two structures in Pleasant View Subdivision in Barangay Tandang Sora on Thursday at 5:30 a.m. 

.Three individuals survived, of which, one sustained injuries. 

Of the two structures, one was an unfinished three-story building, which authorities discovered to have no building permit. 

“Ayon naman po sa BFP [Bureau of Fire Protection], mayroon silang fire clearance na inissue noong 2021,” Belmonte said.

(The BFP said they had a fire clearance in 2021.)

“At the time the inspection occurred, allegedly walang manufacturing activity don. Ang nakita nila ay isang office na 15 sqm kung kaya binigyan nila ng fire clearance. This fire clearance expired in 2022 at di na ito narenew,” she added. 

(There was no manufacturing activity at the time of the inspection and fire officials saw they were operating in a 15-sqm office so they were issued a fire clearance. That expired in 2022 and they have yet to renew it.)

Fire officials said they are still investigating the cause of the incident. The estimated damage incurred by the fire hit around P3 million.

Internal investigation

Belmonte said the city hall would conduct an internal investigation within their offices to determine if there were lapses in regulating businesses in the city.

The QC Business Permit and Licensing Department (BPLD) appealed to business owners operating in the city to remain truthful in declaring their details for their business permits. 

“Winawarningan po namin 'yung ating mga negosyante sa QC na while we are religiously and meticulously complying to the provisions of the Ease of Doing Business Law, we will also go after 'yung mga nagmi-misdeclare at nagsisinungaling sa kanilang declarations ng business activity, area, at location ng business,” said QC BPLD Head Margarita Santos. 

(We’re warning business owners in QC that while we are religiously and meticulously complying with the provisions of the Ease of Doing Business Law, we will also go after those who lie and misdeclare their business activity, area, and location.)

Belmonte said the city government will extend burial and financial assistance to the bereaved families, especially to the company workers.