The Gentle Hands Inc. has been served with a new cease and desist order (CDO) by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
This action was taken following the revocation of the facility's fire safety inspection certificate (FSIC) by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The DSWD issued the CDO on June 13, based on a letter from Fire Senior Supt. Aristotle Banaga of the Quezon City Fire Department dated May 25, 2023.
The letter confirmed that GHI's FSIC had been revoked due to multiple defects in their facility.
The Quezon City Fire Department identified 13 violations of the Fire Code committed by GHI's Project 4 facility. Gentle Hands management must address all these defects before they can obtain a new FSIC, which is a requirement for operating any establishment.
The violations listed by the BFP include non-compliance with the required termination of fire exits, absence of an automatic detection and alarm system, absence of an approved automatic sprinkler system, absence of a posted emergency evacuation plan, and failure to conduct emergency egress and relocation drills.
In light of the serious fire safety violations, the DSWD, with its authority and responsibility to protect children from various forms of danger and neglect, issued the CDO ordering Gentle Hands Inc. to cease operations pending a DSWD investigation, which will last for a maximum of 20 days.
The issuance of the CDO is within the DSWD's regulatory powers and responsibility to safeguard children's rights and protect them from neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and any conditions that hinder their development.
“Given the serious fire safety violations of the care facility, and pursuant to the authority, regulatory powers, and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of DSWD to assist in the protection of the rights of children from all forms of danger, neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development…the undersigned hereby orders Gentle Hands Inc. to Cease and Desist from further operations pending an investigation by the DSWD for a maximum period of 20 days,” the CDO signed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian read.
Earlier on May 22, the DSWD had issued an initial CDO against Gentle Hands Inc. based on a complaint alleging a violation of Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination.
Gentle Hands Inc. is a duly registered and licensed social welfare and development agency (SWDA) under the DSWD. Their license, issued on August 12, 2021, is valid until August 13, 2024.
