ILOILO City – Vendors are not allowed to sell firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices at public plazas.
Taking into consideration public safety and convenience, the city government has restricted the selling to only three sparsely populated areas.
In Executive Order No. 119 Mayor Jose Espinosa III designated the following areas as firecracker zones:
* Circumferential Road 1, corner Jocson Street in Arevalo district
* Circumferential Road 1, corner East Coast – Capiz Road along Ondoy’s Sugbahan in Jaro district
* Muelle Loney Street along the Iloilo River in front of the statue of the late British consul to Iloilo Nicholas Loney in the City Proper
These areas were recommended by the Bureau of Fire Protection’s Chief Inspector Christopher Regencia, the city fire marshal.
“They are away from densely populated zones,” according to Espinosa.
The selling of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in these areas would only be until Dec. 31.
“Under existing issuances bawal mag baligya sa mga duog nga may mga balay kag madamo sang tawo kasubong sang plaza,” said City Administrator Hernando Galvez.
Stalls or kiosks at the three firecracker zones must be one meter apart, with a dimension of 2m x 4m and a total floor area of 8 sq m.
They must also have double walling (stronger side) made of Hardiflex (inner side) and tin/galvanized iron sheet (outer side) and galvanized iron sheet roofing/shed.
Firecracker vendors are strictly required to display “No Testing” and “No Smoking” signs with a dimension of 3 ft by 2 ft bearing the telephone numbers of the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Cooking at the three firecracker zones is prohibited.
Also, all displayed firecrackers / fireworks must have plastic cover while only LED lights are allowed within the premises. Electrical outlets are prohibited.
The EO requires at least one fire extinguisher (ABC Dry Chemical) in every stall or kiosk, too.
Meanwhile, Galvez said fireworks displays are allowed at the car park of SM City Iloilo, the car park of the Iloilo Business Park and Arevalo Plaza just like last year.
“Pwedi man maka-fireworks display in some other places basta inang mga legitimate nga palupok lang,” said Galvez.
The city Bureau of Fire Protection’s Chief Inspector Christopher Regencia said last week people must not patronize firecrackers that have been specifically banned due to the enormous risks they pose.
Among these banned firecrackers are piccolo, super lolo, pla-pla, Goodbye Philippines, and watusi.
Permit must be secured first from the Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine National Police for vending firecrackers, added Regencia.
Galvez said the city government encourages the conduct of community fireworks display.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 28 in June 2017 limiting the use of firecrackers. He specifically confined the use of firecrackers to community fireworks display.
“(There) continues to be a substantial number of firecracker-related injuries, even casualties, every year, some involving bystanders,” part of the EO read.
Due to firecracker-related injuries and deaths, “the promulgation of stricter national standards, rules and regulations is warranted,” it stressed.
According to the EO, a community fireworks display must be “conducted under the supervision of a trained person duly licensed by the Philippine National Police.”
It should also be “allowed by the municipality/city concerned through a permit specifying the date and time of fireworks display and the specific area in which the display will be conducted, in conformity with national standards, rules and regulations.”/PN
