Brgys urged: Look for firecracker zone

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Council has encouraged the barangay officials to designate a common firecracker zone in their respective barangay to minimize firecracker-related accidents during the Christmas and New Year revelries.

The city government is also strictly implementing the ordinance that allow allows selling of firecracker and other related products at the designated area in South Road Properties (SRP). Those firecrackers sold outside the SRP shall be confiscated.

Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the committee on environment, said that the barangays which have designated common firecracker explosion areas in the past have reported a reduction in the number of accidents.

“To mitigate the negative effects posed by firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, there is a need to declare a designated safe zone or common firecracker explosion areas in every barangay,” Cabrera said.

But some barangay officials said it is difficult for them to do it especially those in the urban area which do not have open spaces.

The barangay officials were urged to start looking for areas in their barangays that could be designated as firecracker zones.

The Cebu City ordinance 222 prohibits anybody from exploding any kind of firecrackers, except in wide areas and far from the residential houses. Since the enactment of the ordinance several years ago nobody was penalized. The ordinance however only carries a minimal penalty of P200 for every violation.

Cabrera said her move to designate a firecracker explosion area is to ensure that the people would have a joyful Christmas and New year.– FPL (FREEMAN)