Barangays urged to put up zone for firecrackers

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Fire Department has requested barangays to regulate, identify and establish an area where their constituents can safely use firecrackers during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

By doing so, unnecessary fires and injuries will be prevented.

“Sa ing-ani nga paagi, atong mga barangay tanods ug barangay fire volunteer brigades makapangandam na sila. Sa panahon nga naay kasikas, dali ra nato matubag,” said Villanueva via Sugboanon channel.

Barangay officials are also expected to put up safety measures in designated zones including a standby water tanks and fire extinguishers.

Though the Bureau of Fire Protection is against the use of firecrackers, Villanueva said some still buy these in line with traditions and superstitious beliefs.

“Unsaon ta man, para sa uban, tradisyon naman gyud nga mogamit og pabuto as a way to drive out sa mga evil spirits ug demalas,” Villanueva added.

The problem here, however, when the “traditional” use of firecrackers causes injuries or worse, residential fires.

“Pero unsaon man pag drive out sa demalas kung adto ka punta sa CCMC igsugat sa Pasko ug New Year?” Villanueva stressed.

With this, Villanueva encouraged the people to use noisemakers instead of this.

The CCFD which has 232 personnel spread in 10 substations in the city have been on high alert since Dec. 1.

The CCFD’s substations are located at Mabolo, Talamban, Guadalupe, San Nicolas, Parian, Pahina Sentral, Pardo, Labangon, Lahug, and Cebu Business Park.

Villanueva said the CCFD is also assisted by the city’s barangay fire volunteer brigades and non-government firefighting units such as the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade, and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, among others.

No Muzzle Taping

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has not yet received an order on muzzle taping of firearms of the policemen.

According to the spokesperson of PRO-7, Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, last year the muzzle taping was not ordered because they are confident that the police are disciplined and knew the consequences of doing indiscriminate firing during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Mahinumduman nako in recent years wala tay mga personnel nga na-involved sa indiscriminate firing and that is one of the reason why mura og pila na ka tuig nga wala tay muzzle taping because we are confident nga atong police on the ground they are disciplined and they know how to be good example sa ilang community,” said Pelare.

Since the start of the Misa de Gallo on December 16 until now, they have achieved their security deployment without any major incidents occurring in churches.

There are minor problems such as traffic and crowding.

They also did not record a case of theft in the church, an indication that the churches are being guarded effectively.

Meanwhile, city and provincial directors have visited those who are selling and manufacturing fireworks to ensure that the law are being complied with.

“So far, we are on top of the situation as far as our firecracker zones are concerned unya ang focus pud sa atoang Police Regional Office-7 kining wala’y mahitabo nga stray bullet incident kay mao man nay challenges gyud so gipahinumduman sa atong Regional Director ang katawhan nga dili magpabuto sa ilang firearms,” said Pelare. — /GMR (FREEMAN)