Firecracker zones designated in La Union

SAN FERNANDO CITY , La Union – To prevent the selling of prohibited firecrackers and to avoid untoward incidents such as fire and explosion, the city government here and several towns of La Union designated public areas as “firecracker zones.”

Aside from the firecracker zone, City Mayor Pablo Ortega also ordered the confiscation of watusi because the Health department issued an advisory cautioning the public of poisoning. Ortega warned parents to prevent their children from using watusi because they are the common victims of watusi poisoning by way of ingesting it.

“We want to ensure the safety of children from using any kind of pyrotechnics. We will also regulate the selling of firecrackers because there are some that are not allowed to be sold,” Ortega said.

Ortega said the city government was prompted to establish firecracker zone because in previous years, there were several incidents of fire due to the unscrupulous selling of firecrackers and some vendors were also selling unsafe smuggled items.

“With this (firecracker zones), we will be able to monitor the proper selling of firecrackers because vendors were given necessary  permits,” Ortega said. – Jun Elias