NO firecrackers are allowed to be sold in Mandaue City for the New Year.
City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, who serves as acting mayor, said no one got an approval for the permits from the Department of Labor and Employment, so far.
“We allow (the sale and display of firecrackers) as long as there is a permit. So far, wa pay na-aprobahan. It means to say no one is allowed to sell,” Fortuna said.
The City Government aims for zero injury related to firecrackers and indiscriminate firing this year.
According to the records of the Department of Health 7, there have been two injuries in Mandaue attributed to firecrackers and stray bullets.
Yesterday, Fortuna led the blowing of “torotot (horns)” together with some of the department heads and officials of the Mandaue Fire Station (MFS) and Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) to encourage the public to avoid firecrackers on New Year’s Eve.
There are fewer than 10 stalls of pyrotechnics that have been allowed to sell firecrackers in Mandaue.
Fire Senior Insp. Josephus Alburo, fire marshal of MFS, said most of them are located in malls.
“With respect to pyrotechnics, naa tay permit gihatag nila (we issued a permit to them),” said Alburo.
Those with permits are only allowed to sell their items on a vacant lot across Parkmall.
The Bureau of Fire Protection, in coordination with the MCPO, will conduct inspections to assure no one violates the prohibition.
Police Supt. Jonathan Abella, deputy city director for administration of MCPO, said they will confiscate firecrackers and pyrotechnics that are being displayed without permits.
MFS considers 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. as critical hours during New Year’s Eve. Alburo said this is the time when people are drunk and firecracker incidents rise.
City Health Officer Edna Seno advised the public that if somebody is injured by a firecracker, the wounds should be cleaned with running water and bring the patient to the nearest hospital or call the Bantay Mandaue Command Center for assistance.