CEBU, Philippines – To prevent occurrences of outbreaks due to contaminated water, the Cebu provincial government has called on all local government units to check their water sources regularly.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is hoping that the mayors are already careful after the highly publicized cases of diarrhea outbreak in Danao City and typhoid outbreak in Alegria town.

“Safety and health concerns of our constituents should always be our top priority and water being a basic service and basic need must be carefully scrutinized as to its source, its transmission and its actual delivery to households,” Garcia said.

She said that the provincial government is ready to help LGUs in something beyond their capacity such as funds.

The Cebu governor said she is waiting for Alegria Mayor Emelita Guisadio to ask for any help from the Capitol after the recent typhoid outbreak in her town.

The Provincial Health Office has already been attending to and monitoring the needs of the patients. Garcia said the province is willing to supply and purchase chlorinators for their water source.

“We will keep in touch with the mayor. We need to be asked,” Garcia said.

LIMITS SET ON PYROTECHNICS SALE

ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – Pyrotechnic vendors are allowed to sell their products starting December 26 to 31 and only in areas identified and designated by the city government.

In a press conference, City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said identified firecracker zones include the vacant lot in front of Vic Imperial Appliance Center on Iznart St. in the city proper; Molo Plaza; Mandurriao Plaza fronting the police station; Jaro Plaza; and La Paz Plaza and Promenade.

In Arevalo, these areas are in the Quezon-JV Jocson Streets to Osmeña Street and the long stretch of Bonifacio and Yulo Streets.
 
Mabilog said they have identified 20 registered pyrotechnic cooperatives with 300 members in Arevalo district – known to be the center of fireworks manufacture in the city.

He said they already coordinated with these groups about safety precaution so that there will be less firecracker-related incidents in welcoming Christmas and the New Year.

During the display and selling of pyrotechnics, vendors are required to have with them buckets of sand and pails of water in case of fire. Stalls are also required to have firewalls and good ventilation.

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

“No smoking and no testing signs are also required in every stall selling firecrackers,” said Mabilog, referring to one requirement in applying for a permit to sell pyrotechnics.

Mabilog said the city government has come up with the New Year’s Eve countdown midnight of December 31 at the Iloilo River along Treñas-Boulevard streets here.

BANNED FIRECRACKER VENDORS WARNED

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines — Vendors of banned firecrackers in the region will be on the run these days as the Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas (PNP 8) has ordered the apprehension and confiscation of their prohibited products, the police said in an interview with reporters here.

PNP-8 Regional Director, Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla said he has ordered a region-wide crackdown on all prohibited firecrackers and illegally manufactured pyrotechnic devices to ensure casualty-free Yuletide and New Year celebrations.

As of this writing, no reported confiscated prohibited firecrackers have yet been seized by field commanders and Revilla said this could be the result of the massive information campaign his office has waged against the selling of the prohibited products. He added that said campaign is in coordination with the Department of Health, the local government units and other authorities and concerned groups in the region.

Revilla appealed to the public to use safer, alternative means of greeting Christmas and the New Year, even as he also discouraged the use of the noisemaker boga, which is a bazooka-looking device made from PVC pipe using denatured alcohol to produce a booming sound. (Restituto Cayubit)