Zamboanga City mulls review of firecracker ordinance

Following an explosion at firecracker warehouse

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The city government of Zamboanga is considering reviewing its amended ordinance that lifted a ban on pyrotechnics and firecrackers, following an explosion that ripped through a firecracker warehouse on Saturday.

The explosion on Marquez Drive in Barangay Tetuan killed five people and wounded 38 others as well as destroyed several residential and commercial buildings.

Mayor John Dalipe said they would wait for the result of the investigation being conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it would look into the incident for possible violation of occupational safety and health standards.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the warehouse would be temporarily closed while investigation is ongoing.

Laguesma said the DOLE would provide assistance to affected workers.

The city government imposed a 10-year ban on firecrackers and pyrotechnics following the Zamboanga siege in 2013.

The ban was lifted last year, allowing those with license or permits to resume operation, provided firecrackers and pyrotechnics materials are stored in non-residential or isolated areas.

Tetuan barangay councilman Sonnyboy Jalani said village officials were not aware of the existence of the firecracker depot in their area.

“As far as barangay officials of Tetuan are concerned, we have no idea. If they planned to store it here, we would not have allowed it. Otherwise, a public hearing or consultation should have been conducted. Owners of property adjacent to the warehouse should have been asked if they would allow the storage of pyrotechnics or firecracker materials near their area,” Jalani said.

Executive M/Sgt. Jonathan Nodado, deputy chief of the Regional Explosives Disposal and Detection, said the remaining unexploded boxes of firecrackers and pyrotechnics should be retrieved as these could pose hazards to the investigating team of the BFP.

An explosive ordnance disposal team manually retrieved the boxes of pyrotechnics and firecrackers from the warehouse yesterday.

Firefighters drenched the unexploded materials to prevent these from getting hot, which may cause shock or another explosion.

Nodado said the recovered pyrotechnics and firecrackers would be disposed of through incineration in a remote village.

The BFP estimated the amount of damage from the explosion at P62.5 million, excluding houses and establishments destroyed. — Mayen Jaymalin