Fireworks makers undergo safety seminar

CEBU, Philippines - At least two hundred residents of Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City who manufacture fireworks and pyrotechnic materials were made to undergo a fire safety seminar anew to prepare for the surge in the demand for their products during the Christmas season.

Babag Barangay Captain Epifania Augusto said the seminar is organized yearly.

“Additional information ni about sa safety, in preparation in terms of classification bitaw sa pabuto kay actually ang fire karon ug police is regulating the type or classification of the pabuto nga i-display during Christmas season,” Augusto said.

The seminar was organized by the city government and the fire department.

Augusto said the making of hard and large fireworks such as piccolo, judas belt and super lolo are prohibited.

“Gidid-an man na nga himoon tungod kay kung i-display kini sa mga nagkadaiyang mga stalls, mupahigayon og inspeksyon ang polis og fire investigators sa dakbayan,” Augusto said.

Based on records of the barangay, there are about 200 hundred manufacturers, dealers and retailers in the barangay.

Vonrad Fernando Dobluis of the Lapu-Lapu City Fire District said the participants in yesterday’s seminar would still be required to undergo another seminar with the fire department. 

“We still require them to undergo a separate seminar aside from the city government’s dialogue since we also issue a separate certificate for them, aside from police,” he said.

Supt. Armando Radoc, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police, has advised residents in the barangay to be extra careful in carrying out their businesses.

“Ang ilahang pag-gama og pabuto, diin nahimo naman ning means of livelihood nga sila mismo, kung makahibalo sila unsaon pag amping, makapadangat dayon sila sa mga tawo nga kining mga pabuto dili delikado,” Radoc said.

He said the city police will start inspecting the vendors’ stalls next week.

In a speech, Mayor Paz Radaza also said manufacturers should follow rules in order to avoid firecracker-related incidents.

“Isip mayor ako naningkamot nga kamo matabangan sa inyong livelihood og masuprtahan tamo sa inyong panginabuhian apan tabangi sad ko ninyo nga kanunay safety jud ang inyong hatagan og importansya,” Radaza said.

She urged the pyrotechnic traders to secure permits and necessary government licenses so that they can run their business smoothly.   (FREEMAN)