Pagharang sa fire hydrant, may parusa

ni PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | July 9, 2026

Dear Chief Acosta,

Isa sa mga kapitbahay namin ay palaging ipinaparada ang kanyang mga sasakyan sa tabi ng fire hydrant sa aming subdivision. Dahil dito, nagiging mahirap o kung minsan ay imposibleng magamit ang fire hydrant kapag may sunog. Kinausap na siya ng ilang residente at pinayuhang iparada na lamang ang kanyang mga sasakyan sa kabilang bahagi ng kalye, ngunit tumanggi pa rin siyang ilipat ang mga ito. May nilalabag ba siyang partikular na batas sa ginagawa niya? — Chebet 

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Dear Chebet,

Layunin ng Estado na pangalagaan ang kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan at maiwasan ang pagdami ng mga mapanirang sunog. Upang maisakatuparan ito, nagpapatupad ito ng mga kaukulang batas, patakaran, at pamantayan upang matiyak ang epektibong mga hakbang sa kaligtasan sa sunog, at ang mahusay at propesyonal na paghahatid ng mga serbisyo kaugnay ng pag-iwas at pag-apula ng sunog.

Ang Seksyon 8(d) ng Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9514 o ang “Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008,” ay nagsasaad na ipinagbabawal ang:

“SECTION 8. Prohibited Acts. - The following are declared as prohibited act and omission:

1. Obstructing or blocking the exit ways or across to buildings clearly marked for fire safety purposes, such as but not limited to aisles in interior rooms, any part of stairways, hallways, corridors, vestibules, balconies or bridges leading to a stairway or exit of any kind, or tolerating or allowing said violations;

2. Constructing gates, entrances and walkways to building components and yards, and temporary or permanent structures on public ways, which obstruct the orderly and easy passage of fire fighting vehicles and equipment;

3. Prevention, interference or obstruction of any operation of the fire service, or of duly organized and authorized fire brigades;

4. Obstructing designated fire lanes or access to fire hydrants; ”

Malinaw sa nabanggit na batas na ipinagbabawal ang pagharang o pagsagabal sa daanan patungo sa mga fire hydrants at may kaukulang kaparusahan ang sinumang lalabag dito. Sa madaling salita, maaaring nilabag ng iyong kapitbahay ang nasabing batas nang harangan niya ng kanyang sasakyan ang daanan patungo sa fire hydrant. Dahil dito, maaari siyang managot sa ilalim ng nabanggit na batas. Ayon sa Seksyon 11 ng nasabing batas:

“SECTION 11. Penalties. –

1. Against the private individual:

a) Administrative fine - Any person who violates any provision of the Fire Code or any of the rules and regulations promulgated under this Act shall be penalized by an administrative fine of not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or in the proper case, by stoppage of operations or by closure of such buildings, structures and their premises or facilities which do not comply with the requirements or by both such administrative fine and closure/stoppage of operation to be imposed by the Chief, BFP: Provided, That the payment of the fine, stoppage of operations and/or closure of such buildings, structures, and their premises or facilities shall not absolve the violator from correcting the deficiency or abating the fire hazard. x x x

b) Punitive - In case of willful failure to correct the deficiency or abate the fire hazard as provided in the preceding subsection, the violator shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than six (6) years, or by a fine of not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment:”

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay nakabatay lamang sa mga impormasyong iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay. 

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.