EDITORIAL - Firecracker tragedy

Incidents involving firecrackers are not uncommon during the last days of the year. Christmas and New Year revelries would always prove to be dangerous, resulting in injuries and even deaths.   

In a country where manufacture of firecrackers is virtually unregulated, the Philippines has one of the highest number of casualties during Yuletide celebrations in the world.   

This year, Christmas Eve merriments in Cebu took an ugly route when at least three people, including two children, were killed when a blaze triggered by a series of firecracker explosions swept through a row of stalls selling pyrotechnics in Barangay Sentro, Mandaue City.   

The incident, which also injured six people, occurred in an area declared by Mandaue City government as firecracker zone. But it seems even in a designated place – where firecracker transactions are governed by strict measures – accidents are still bound to happen.     

Following the incidents, finger-pointing ensued. Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna lambasted the lack of proper spacing of stalls at the firecracker zone that would have prevented the spread of the fire.

Fortuna continued that the site should not have been designated as firecracker zone owing to its proximity to a gasoline station. He held those who issued the permit as responsible for the incident.

Although some may construe Fortuna’s statement as nothing but a way of politicking as he positions himself for the next elections, we can never blame him for issuing such since he is with the opposition.

But it would be better if Fortuna would back up his words by launching an investigation into the incident. Conducting a probe would make more sense than just a mere issuance of statement.

An investigation should help bring justice to the victims as it would find out who are those responsible for the incident. Besides, its result would definitely bring about issues on the need to further strengthen regulations on the sale of firecrackers within the city.

There is certainly a lesson or two to be learned from the recent firecracker tragedy. Heads should roll as to why the incident managed to occur right in a place where safety is supposed to be the foremost priority.