Barangays lack firecracker zones

The order of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno has come to nothing because until today most barangays have still failed to designate firecracker and pyrotechnics zones solely for those who want to blast their firecrackers in welcoming the New Year tonight.

Puno earlier reminded local officials—governors, mayors and barangay captains—about compliance of Republic Act 7183 that regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and the use of firecrackers, and mandates the setting up of a firecracker zones in every local government unit.

Puno also instructed local officials to convene their peace and order councils to ensure the public of safety measures against threats in the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

The purpose of Puno’s order was to confine firecracker use, during Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, at a common site to prevent injuries to people and fires.

To date, however, most barangays could not show which part of their place is the designated firecracker zone, which indicated that local officials, particularly barangay captains, have apparently ignored the DILG order.

Guadalupe’s Eugenio Faelnar, president of the Association of Barangay Councils-Cebu City, when asked about this issue said the directive could be enforced strictly if only the barangay officials have the political will to do it.

“Kon mga talawan gani ang mga opisyal, dili g’yod makatuman nga ang pagpabuto adto ra himoa sa firecracker zones,” said Faelnar.

Fire officials have agreed that firecrackers and pyrotechnic zones could help make the revelries safer for the people, and prevent possible fire incidents, which usually occur during these times. 

Some city residents however complained about the practicality of such zones. They described it as useless because this will not be followed strictly anyway.

“Kon duna say lagda nga pangdakpon ang mga mopabuto gawas sa mga firecracker zones, imposible usab nga madakop ang tanan. Lisud man god nga moadto pa g’yod sa firecracker zone aron magpabuto,” said Efren Castro of barangay Lorega-San Miguel.

Some of them said that any body may be allowed to explode firecrackers in any place, but they should make sure that it will not hurt others and destroy properties in the process.

Department of Health records, from December 21 last year to January 1, 2007, over 600 people, many of them children, were injured by firecrackers and 24 others were hit by stray bullets.  — Rene U. Borromeo/RAE