Cebu City's public night market declared a no-firecracker zone

After the tragic fire caused by firecrackers that left more than a score of people dead in Ormoc City last Christmas Day, the public night market in Cebu City has been declared yesterday as a no firecracker zone.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama and the United Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Council have decided that Manalili Street and the rest of the city's public night market will be a prohibited area for selling firecrackers.

The vice-mayor, in yesterday's meeting, urged the group members not to sell firecrackers until New Year's Day because the city's night market area is not safe for such items.

Raquel Arce, the market administrator, also supported the move of Rama saying that it has been meant to avoid any untoward incident during the close of the year's holidays.

As part of the Pasko sa Carbon, Manalili Street and the roads leading to it have been closed since December 21-24 and on December 28-30 to allow vendors to sell their wares at the night market at very low prices.

The night market, a fund-raising activity of the Sinulog organizing committee, has been competing with some malls and out-of-town traders along Osmena Boulevard.

Rama said the Carbon Police station and barangay Ermita tanods have been tasked to check any attempt to sell firecrackers at this night market, and ensure the safety of buyers.

He said that policemen and tanods would also prohibit parking of motorcycles along Manalili Street where vendors sell fruits, vegetables, foods, and other bargain items.

The December 25 record of firecracker victims in Cebu City has 11 injured people, the youngest of whom was a seven-year-old girl and the oldest was 52-year-old Virgilio Romero.

Seriously injured was a 15-year-old male from sitio Nazareth in barangay Buhisan, who was injured when a firecracker exploded inside his pocket.

Meanwhile in Danao City last Christmas Day also, two firecracker victims have been reported to have suffered injuries and treated at the Danao District Hospital.

The first victim was Edilberto Aguilar, a 56-year-old married resident of barangay Maslog, who was injured on his right finger and taken to the hospital at 12:15am.

Five minutes after, Gregorio Capoy Jr., a 36-year-old resident of barangay Sabang, got injured in his right middle finger and was taken to the same hospital.

City policeman, SPO4 Teofilo Deguilmo, yesterday told The Freeman that, aside from the two, there have been no other victims from firecrackers have been reported so far and that the city has been generally peaceful.

The Department of Health-7 reported that last year Central Visayas recorded 179 firecracker victims with Cebu City having the most number with 99.

The cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue ranked next with 22 victims each. Talisay City had 10 cases while Consolacion town had eight. - Ramil V. Ayuman and Norvie S. Misa