A Dumaguete City hotel operated by a major cooperative has taken its dispute with local fire authorities all the way to the national leadership of the Bureau of Fire Protection, filing a verified appeal that challenges both the penalties imposed and the procedural basis behind them.
DCCCO Multipurpose Cooperative Hotel, situated along Luke Wright Street, Poblacion No. 2, Dumaguete City, filed the appeal on June 5, 2026, seeking relief directly from the Office of the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection. The filing was signed by the hotel’s Chief Executive Officer, Mildredo T. Umbac, who contested enforcement actions taken by the BFP Dumaguete City Fire Station under the Negros Island Region.
What the Hotel Is Asking the BFP Chief to Do
According to the verified appeal, DCCCO Hotel made four specific requests: that the BFP Chief suspend enforcement of the contested notices while the appeal is being resolved; that collection of the ₱37,500 administrative fine be halted; that any pending closure or abatement action be placed on hold; and that a “Fire Hazard” tarpaulin that was posted on the hotel’s glass wall be ordered removed.
The tarpaulin in question — bearing the text “WARNING: THIS BUILDING/STRUCTURE IS A FIRE HAZARD” — was affixed to the hotel premises on June 3, 2026, the appeal states. The hotel argued in its filing that displaying the warning while an administrative appeal was already in progress caused undue harm to its reputation and business operations.
The respondent named in the appeal is the Bureau of Fire Protection-Dumaguete City Fire Station-Negros Island Region, represented by FSINSP Joebert A. Sanao in his capacity as Acting City Fire Marshal.
How the Dispute Began: Inspection, Notices, and Alleged Deficiencies
The appeal outlines a timeline that began on March 27, 2026, when the BFP issued an inspection order covering the hotel property. A Notice to Comply was served on April 6, 2026, listing several fire safety deficiencies that needed to be addressed.
Among the deficiencies cited were exit and directional signs, preventive maintenance documentation for fire safety systems, clean agent automatic fire suppression systems for IDF rooms, integration of a server room system with the Fire Detection and Alarm System (FDAS) panel, HFC 236fa extinguishers, and Type K extinguishers.
The hotel’s appeal documents show that DCCCO Hotel moved quickly to respond. According to the filing, two-way exit signages and emergency lights were installed by April 8, 2026. The hotel began identifying suppliers for an FM200 fire suppression system by April 9, and had purchased Type K fire extinguishers and HFC 236fa ceiling-mounted units by April 20. The appeal further states that the hotel prepared an affidavit of undertaking and attempted to submit purchase documentation to the BFP, but alleged the agency declined to receive the document.
Fine Issued When Sole Remaining Item Was a Complex Technical System
When the BFP issued the Notice to Correct Violation on April 24, 2026 — carrying the ₱37,500 penalty — the appeal asserts that only one deficiency item remained unresolved: the automatic clean agent fire suppression system, which needed to be connected to the FDAS panel.
The hotel argued in its filing that this was not a simple corrective measure. The appeal described it as a specialized, technically demanding, and cost-intensive installation requiring engineering evaluation, procurement of components — including imported materials — physical installation, FDAS integration, functional testing, and final commissioning. A contract provision cited in the filing estimated that completion of the work would take between 30 and 60 days from the start of the project.
Board Authorized ₱1.6-Million Purchase Just Days After Penalty Was Issued
Despite receiving the penalty notice, DCCCO Hotel’s Board of Directors approved on April 26, 2026 — two days after the fine was issued — the procurement of an FM200 fire suppression system from a contractor identified in the filing as Luvimar, at a contract price of ₱1.6 million.
The appeal cited this board resolution and contractual commitment as evidence that the hotel was actively working to complete the remaining compliance requirement, rather than ignoring it. The filing emphasized that the nature of the procurement — involving imported components and a phased installation process — made it impossible to complete within a compressed administrative window.
Hotel Challenges Legal and Technical Basis for Specific System Requirement
Beyond the question of timelines, the appeal also raised a legal and procedural concern. According to the verified filing, DCCCO Hotel questioned what it characterized as the absence of a clearly identified legal and technical foundation for the exact system configuration that the BFP required.
The hotel asked the BFP Chief to direct the fire station to specify the precise provision of Republic Act 9514, also known as the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, applicable NFPA standards, or any adopted technical standard that mandates the specific requirement. The hotel also asked that the factual findings supporting the requirement be formally stated on record.
The appeal additionally requested that the hotel be given a compliance period that is proportionate to the technical complexity and contractual scope of the FDAS integration and suppression system works.
Hotel Points to Years of Fire Safety Compliance as Context
As part of its broader argument, DCCCO Hotel cited its history of obtaining Fire Safety Inspection Certificates from the BFP. According to the appeal, the hotel secured FSICs on April 20, 2023, August 1, 2024, and December 9, 2025. The most recently issued certificate, the filing states, remained valid through December 13, 2026.
The hotel invoked this compliance record to argue that it had consistently engaged in good faith with fire safety obligations and could not be characterized as a habitual or indifferent violator of the Fire Code.
Formal Relief Sought Before National BFP Office
In the formal prayer section of its appeal, DCCCO Hotel asked the BFP Chief to give due course to the verified appeal, issue an urgent interim order suspending enforcement of the contested notices, and ultimately reverse or set aside the assailed issuances entirely.
As an alternative, the hotel asked that the notices be modified so as to require the BFP Dumaguete City Fire Station to clearly identify the applicable legal and technical standards, and to allow DCCCO Hotel a period of 60 days — or such longer period as may be deemed appropriate — to complete, test, and commission the contracted clean agent suppression and FDAS integration system.
As of June 7, 2026, the BFP Office of the Chief had not issued any public statement in response to the appeal, and the BFP Dumaguete City Fire Station had likewise not released a public comment. Breaking News Negros Oriental reported that it had reached out to the BFP for a response and would update its coverage as developments occur.
The case is being closely monitored for its potential implications on how fire code enforcement timelines are applied to commercial establishments undertaking technically complex and capital-intensive fire suppression upgrades — particularly those involving imported materials and multi-phase commissioning requirements.
Source: Breaking News Negros Oriental (breakingnewsnegrosoriental.com)
