Navotas to open firecracker zones

With the New Year celebration just around the corner, the Navotas City government has vowed to ensure that no one from the city would be injured or killed because of firecrackers.

In a statement, the city government said it had ordered the 14 barangays (villages) under its jurisdiction to designate firecracker zones where residents can light pyrotechnics to celebrate the coming of the New Year. Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco said the firecracker zones should be open spaces in the barangays, far from commercial and residential areas.

“Residents can enjoy welcoming the New Year at the firecracker zones, which should be open from 11:30 p.m. of Dec. 31 up to 12:15 a.m. of Jan. 1, 2013,” Tiangco said. He noted that the lighting of firecrackers should be limited to just 45 minutes to reduce the risk of injuries to New Year revelers.

“We are imposing such measures because we are concerned with the safety of our constituents and we want to minimize the risk of loss of lives and property,” Tiangco said. He added that the city government would strictly prohibit the sale, distribution and manufacture of dangerous firecrackers such as “goodbye world.”—Nathaniel R. Melican