BFP-Iloilo City on ‘heightened alert’ for Christmas season

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Iloilo City has declared “heightened alert status” to ensure the safety of the public this holiday season.

BFP-Iloilo City Community Relations Unit chief Senior Fire Officer 1 Jayson Gallego reminded the public to observe safety, and still be mindful of their surroundings, especially with the presence of firecrackers, while enjoying the holiday season.

Gallego emphasized that they also inspect the permits of vendors and kiosks in designated firecracker zones, as well as monitor the areas for other possible violations.

“Naga-conduct man kita sang fire safety lectures and inspections sa mga designated firecracker areas naton,” Gallego added.

BFP-Iloilo City also said that the city will be on alert status starting Dec 1, 2022 to Jan 5, 2023, while the red alert status will start on Dec 23, 2022 to Jan 1, 2023.

“Ang red alert status naton is on Dec 23 to Jan 1 kay diri na ni masako baklanay sang mga palupok or firecrackers naton,” Gallego said.

The BFP-Iloilo City is set to conduct a “One Media Campaign” as part of their safety measure campaigns, as fire safety tips will also be posted on their Facebook pages to remind and educate people of the safety measures with regards to fire incidents.

“We will also conduct ‘rekorida’ sa aton nga mga barangays all over the city nga nagahatag pahanumdom regarding sa paghalong sa December or the Yuletide season,” Gallego revealed.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas issued Executive Order No. 107, regulating the sale, distribution, manufacture, and use of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices in the city.

The EO only identified three areas in the metro where firecracker and pyrotechnic vendors can display and sell their products from Dec. 1 to 31, 2022:

-Circumferential Road C1 (corner Jocson Street) in Arevalo district

-C1 Road (corner of the East Coast Iloilo-Capiz Road and Circumferential Road in Jaro district along Ondoy’s Sugbahan)

-along Muelle Loney Street, in front of Muelle Loney Statue in the City Proper

Vendors also need to pay P500 for the permit at the City Treasurer’s Office, while those firecrackers that are allowed to be sold are those only approved under the law.

Under Republic Act 7183 (An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacturing and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices) there are only specific types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that may be manufactured, sold, distributed, and used, which include baby rocket, bawang, small triangulo, pulling of strings, paper caps, el diablo, watusi, judah’s belt, sky rocket, sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo, mabuhay, roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle device, butterfly, and other types of pyrotechnic devices or “pailaw”.

Fireworks and pyrotechnic devices display areas or center should also be separated from each other by a firewall with a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours, and fire extinguishers must also be provided.

Smoking within 15 meters from a display center, as well as the presence of stoves, explosive flames and electrical heaters, and testing of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices are prohibited, while the conduct of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices exhibition must be complied with necessary clearance and permit.