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[av_heading heading=’BFP: NO ROOM FOR NEGLIGENCE
Carelessness can trigger ‘cracker fires ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – The holiday season is fast approaching. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in this city is wary of negligent firecracker manufacturers.
As early as last month, the bureau started a “covert mapping operation” in the barangays of Arevalo district, the “firecracker capital” of Iloilo.
“Sige-sige ang mapping naton sa mga barangays to monitor kon may naga-manufacture kag naga-storage na,” said City Fire Marshal Jerry Candido.
Arevalo is where most of the local firecrackers and pyrotechnics are made. These are mostly manufactured in the backyards of enterprising residents.
Last month, BFP had not monitored manufacturing activities, said Candido.
“We would like to advise the public nga indi dapat mag-store palupok,” said Candido.
Storing firecrackers is dangerous, he warned.
“Delikado ang palupok kon mabasa, kay kon magmala may tendency nga maglupok maski wala human intervention. So dapat i-dispose sya,” said Candido.
In 2011, the city council passed an ordinance establishing fireworks manufacturing zones – Barangay So-oc in Arevalo and Barangay Navais in Mandurriao district.
In 2015, BFP issued permits to three manufacturers only, said Candido.
Dec. 23 last year, a cargo truck bound for Concepcion, Iloilo and loaded with various kinds of firecrackers caught fire in Barangay Santiago, Barotac Viejo town. The truck plate was totally burned.
Truck driver Edwin Zapater managed to escape from the truck unharmed. The back of the truck where the firecrackers were stashed suddenly burst into flames.
The selling of firecrackers in this city started Dec. 26 last year. This time, said City Administrator Hernando Galvez, the city government will issue the guidelines as early as the first week of December.
NO OPPOSITION
So far, there is no known opposition to the BFP proposal to prohibit the sale of firecrackers in public plazas, said Galvez.
A meeting with firecracker vendors will be set sometime this month.
Whatever the result of BFP’s proposal, Galvez said the decision of the city government will surely be in compliance with Republic Act 7183 or the law on pyrotechnics.
“Wala sang opposition sa mga nag-alatend sang meeting (Nov. 2) but gusto pa gid naton makakuha sang iban nga feedbacks. Gani nag agree kami nga ma-talk liwat para desisyunan ang amon mangin rekomendasyon naton sa aton city mayor,” said Galvez.
Representatives from the BFP, concerned city hall departments and former city councilor Lyndon Acap attended.
Acap is a resident of Arevalo and has extensive knowledge of the firecracker business in the district.
Galvez said around 108 firecracker vendors applied for permits to sell last year.
BFP’s proposed sole firecracker zone is the portion of the circumferential road in Barangay San Jose, Arevalo./PN
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