Caloocan designates firecracker zones

The Caloocan City government has ordered the designation of firecracker zones throughout the city as residents prepare to greet the New Year with a bang.

Mayor Enrico Echiverri said he had ordered the city’s 188 barangays (villages) to designate their respective firecracker zones or open areas away from houses and other establishments where residents could safely light up firecrackers and fireworks.

“(This is) for the benefit and safety of our residents themselves, so we hope everyone follows this so we can have a safe New Year celebration,” Echiverri said.

Police and civilian public safety teams will be deployed to check compliance and anyone caught setting off firecrackers outside the zones will be penalized, he said.

Caloocan, which is the second largest city in Metro Manila, is the second local government unit after Navotas City to initiate such measures in the Camanava area. Nathaniel R. Melican