ILOILO City – Amusement parks in this city should be regulated, especially after an incident during the last day of the Dinagyang Festival wherein a woman and her two children fell off a Ferris Wheel along the Diversion Road in Mandurriao district, according to Councilor Plaridel Nava.
“It is about time to regulate these (amusement parks),” said Nava in his speech during the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) regular session yesterday.
In the same session, Nava filed a proposed ordinance that seeks to regulate the feria rides.
He said the city government has been allowing the operation of amusement parks for a long time but no rules have been set to ensure the safety of their rides.
“Amo na kon ngaa ang mga operators sang feria daw wala man sa bungog nila
ang safety net…wala seatbelt. Butangan lang bar nga kaptan. Okay lang if you are old enough to understand,” stressed Nava.
The Jan. 27 incident involved a woman and her two children aged 2 and 4 years old.
According to a report, the lock of the Ferris Wheel unfastened.
The woman and her children – who sustained minor injuries after the fall – were treated in a hospital.
The lack of an ordinance covering amusement parks in the city prevents the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) to properly act on this kind of incidents, said Nava.
“In our city, we cannot demand the PSTMO to ensure that proper safety measures are being observed because wala sila guidelines, not even an executive order from the mayor who grants permits to these operations,” the opposition councilor added.
He stressed that this “is a risk that should not be taken by the city government.”
Nava said there should be an age limit in certain rides and safety measures like the use of seatbelts must always be imposed.
“Tani man ang aton mga executives and aton permit division, they should always make sure [the rides are safe] before they grant permits [to amusement park operators],” the councilor added.
Nava also said the city government should conduct regular inspections at amusement parks.
Moreover, Nava filed a resolution calling for a legislative investigation on the Jan. 27 incident. The city council unanimously approved the resolution.
Nava’s two proposed measures were referred to the SP committee on police matters, public safety and illegal drugs chaired by Councilor Joshua Alim./PN
