Davao City (21 January) -- Some 23,000 medium and big establishments operating in Davao City will be subjected to inspection by the Task Force on Public Safety.

Atty. Renante Matobato, chief of the Barangay and Cultural Communities Affairs Division (BCADD) said this is in line with Executive Order No. 3 issued by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Mayor Duterte heads the inter-agency task force with city administrator Atty. Wendel Avisado as vice-chairperson. Members include the city engineer, business bureau chief, BCADD chief, city health officer, city planning and development coordinator, city environment and natural resources officer, director of city police office, and bureau of fire protection chief.

Matobato said the mayor has instructed the barangay captains to coordinate with the task force in the conduct of inspections.

During inspections, he said the task force will determine whether building owners, lessees and occupants comply to the provisions of the National Building Code, the Fire Code of the Philippines, the Code of Sanitation, the Toxic and Hazardous Waste Management Act, the Revised Zoning Ordinance of Davao and other applicable laws and ordinances.

Matobato clarified they are not there to search as some traders are wary of the warehouse inspection and others may not cooperate because of misconception.

He said the local government code allows the city government to conduct inspections on establishments to determine whether their compliance with existing laws.

Matobato said the inspection will be undertaken in highly urbanized areas along Bunawan, Buhangin, Sasa, Agdao, Poblacion, Talomo, and Toril.

The inspection will done during business hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, he said.

Matobato further said the inspections will be conducted within the first quarter this year although its first attempt led them to a warehouse in Barangay Paciano Bangoy. The warehouse of Unicorn Food Corporation (UFC) was found not complying with city ordinances and related laws.