VM tells fire dept to designate place for firecracker vendors

CEBU, Philippines -  Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan G. Bucao wants the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) to immediately designate common areas for the display and sale of firecrackers to make the celebration of Christmas and the New Year safer and cleaner.

“Designating a common firework area would make the celebration of Christmas and New Year safer and cleaner. We Filipinos like to greet every New Year with a rowdy bang, the firecracker kind, supposedly to bid for luck and prosperity all year long,” Bucao said, who is the chairman of the committee on public safety. 

Bucao said vendors should observe proper guidelines in selling and making explosives.

They should follow the standard set by the Firearms and Explosives, Security Agency and Guards Section (Fesags).

Bucao said the paramount consideration is safety, not only to those who use firecrackers, but to those who may be likely hurt by these products such as the vendors themselves. 

“With the hazard and danger that these pyrotechnics/firecrackers pose, this august body and the City of Talisay government must take all precautions to prevent fires during the holidays,” he said.

Vendors are required to have buckets of sand and pails of water on hand all the time. Stalls are also required to have firewalls and good ventilation.

As standard operating procedure, displayed pyrotechnics should be covered with plastic especially those near the sidewalk.

“No Smoking and No Testing” signs are also required in every stall selling firecrackers.  (FREEMAN)