Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has issued a new cease and desist order (CDO) against Gentle Hands Inc., a Quezon City orphanage, for fire safety violations which reportedly put its children at risk.
The DSWD issued its first CDO against the orphanage on May 22 and said that if it rectified the violations identified by the agency within a maximum period of 20 days, it would be lifted.
The closure order was issued after DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian conducted a surprise inspection of the site on May 20 and found safety issues which he said put the children in “imminent danger” and supposedly violated Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
As a result, about 149 children were relocated to other orphanages around Metro Manila.
READ: DSWD orders QC orphanage closure
The second CDO was filed on June 13 or 22 days after the issuance of the first closure order. It also has a maximum period of 20 days, while the DSWD conducts an investigation on the facility.
This new closure order was based on the Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) revocation of the orphanage’s fire safety inspection certificate (FSIC) on May 25, the DSWD said.
The BFP identified 13 violations of the fire code committed by Gentle Hands, including “failure to comply with the required termination of fire exits\” and \”absence of automatic detection and alarm system,” the DSWD said.
Others include: “Absence of approved automatic sprinkler system; absence of posted emergency evacuation plan, and failure to conduct emergency egress and relocation drills.”
The DSWD said it accredited and licensed Gentle Hands as a social welfare and development agency (SWDA) on August 12, 2021 and that this was valid until August 13, 2024.
Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez explained on Thursday that as it is the DSWD which issues SWDA licenses, “the Department has the power to issue a CDO against an SWDA especially if there are serious concerns regarding their facilities, like the revocation of their FSIC by the BFP.”
