CEBU CITY – This city is enforcing strict regulations on firecrackers sale.
POLICE Col. Antonietto Cañete (left), chief of the Cebu City Police Office, leads the inspection of firecracker stalls on South Road Properties in Cebu City on Friday, Dec. 27. (Contributed photo)
Police Col. Antonietto Cañete, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, on Friday, Dec. 27, led the inspection of 16 firecrackers stalls at the South Road Properties.
All stalls were thoroughly inspected to determine if they complied with the regulations that the city imposed on the sale of firecrackers.
Together with the chiefs of the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU) and the Bureau of Fire Protection, Cañete checked if the firecrackers on display did not contain imported chemicals. Firecrackers containing imported chemicals are prohibited in the country.
Stall owners were also asked to present their permits.
Authorities also checked if there were No Smoking warnings mounted in the areas or if the stalls have stored water or fire extinguishers.
“We didn’t see any problem. The stalls are compliant with the local and national regulations,” said Cañete.
Police Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bilaro, chief of RCSU-7, said the government is strict when it comes to ensuring that firecracker vendors are compliant with policies to prevent untoward incidents.
Bilaro said they have already inspected firecracker zones in other areas in Cebu, especially in Lapu-Lapu City where there are firecracker manufacturers.
He said a thorough inspection is necessary to prevent a recent incident in Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu where firecracker stall caught fire.
“All requirements must be followed and so far, all of them complied with the requirements," Bilaro said.
Cañete said the CCPO is hoping for zero incident in the celebration of the New Year.
“We call on the public to, as much as possible, avoid using firecrackers. We also asked the parents to advise their children to refrain using firecrackers,” said Cañete.