Jonas to pick place where firecracker vendors can sell

CEBU, Philippines – Mandaue city Mayor Jonas Cortes may soon identify a place in the city where it could be safe for vendors to sell firecrackers during the yuletide season.

Cortes said the city cannot totally ban the sale of firecrackers for fear it may pose more risk to the public if vendors were to discreetly sell fire crackers at home should they be prevented from selling.

However, he said vendors will only sell firecrackers in an area he will soon name.

The mayor said the city will provide the stalls this time to make sure these are meters apart to avoid any untoward incident as what happened last year.

Three people died in the city last December 24 when 54 stalls of firecracker vendors caught fire while selling their goods at the Reclamation Area.

Cortes said safety measures will be enforced. Vendors would be required to bring drums where some of their merchandise would be stored.

A fire extinguisher and sand will also be brought in the area just in cases of explosions.

Children would not be allowed to sell. Buyers will not be allowed to test firecrackers. Smoking near the stalls would be prohibited.

Anyone selling along the city streets will be arrested.

Mandaue City Fire Marshal Rogelio Bongabong during the weekly press conference with reporters also said that so far no one has secured yet for a permit to sell firecrackers unlike last year when as early as November there were already several vendors who had applied for permits from his office. (FREEMAN)