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LC: Firecrackers to be sold only below Gilbert Bridge

By Dominic Dela Cruz
Staff Reporter

In preparation for the up-coming Yuletide Season and New Year, the Laoag City government has declared that selling of firecrackers would only be allowed under the Gilbert Bridge.

This was announced by acting Laoag City police chief P/Supt. Jeffrey Gorospe. He explained that this was decided during a staff meeting at the City Hall.

Gorospe added that this would also be the best way to avoid any untoward incidents.

In the past, the city government has designated the area behind the Holy Spirit Academy of Laoag as firecracker selling zone but firecracker vendors have also sold their wares along the city’s main thoroughfares.

Gorospe however said that this area can still be considered dangerous as he said the best place to sell firecrackers would be in an area that is not cemented.

Reacting to this, the Laoag City Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas welcomed the suggestion of the police chief, being the one in-charge of security and instructed Gorospe to coordinate with the City Disaster Risk reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on how to best implement this.

Laoag City fire marshal Bonifacio Sacatrapos also agreed with the police chief’s suggestion because he said the law states that the best place in selling firecrackers should be on a land and 300 meters away from any structure.

Sacatrapos also said that the law also needs a resolution approved by the city council designating the permanent and area for the selling of firecrackers so that all vendors will be in one place and anyone who violates will be apprehended and charged.
Sacatrapos added that aside from a business permit, the firecracker vendor should also seek a possession of firecrackers permit.

Laoag acting interior and local government officer Lavin Basilio, for her part said that her office received a directive from the Department of Interior and Local Government late last year stating that the local chief executive, or the mayor, has now the power to designate the firecracker zone area.

Basilio also recommended the approval of a resolution to coincide with the mayor’s designation.

The mayor said that since her office has not yet received any request asking for a mayor’s permit relative to the matter, she instructed all the offices in charge to coordinate with one another for a proposed resolution to be submitted to the city council for proper action.

It should be noted, the mayor said that the New Year celebration is fast approaching and that the vendors should also seek and complete all the requirements needed for them to be allowed to sell firecrackers. She stressed that this is for everybody’s safety. 

The Ilocos Times learned that a vendor shall first undergo a seminar/briefing in La Union for them to be issued a certification as one of the requirements to become an accredited firecracker seller.

Gorospe said the first scheduled seminar in La Union was already completed and the last schedule would be in Camp Crame in Metro Manila but no specific date has been set yet.


He also said that he saw a lot of Laoag residents attend the seminar in La Union.

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