BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Sixty-six areas in Bacolod City have been designated as firecracker zones.
Executive assistant to the mayor Ernie Pineda said yesterday that these are near the Peoples’ Market in barangays 10 and 12, an abandoned lot in Brgy. 35, the coastal area in Purok Bolinao, Brgy. 1, the basketball court in Purok Kagaykay, Brgy 2, a vacant lot at Gatuslao Street in Brgy. 3, Gatuslao Street in front of the hall of Brgy. 4, the Barangay Mansilingan playground, and the street near the Christmas Village next to the residence of businessman Jerry Sy.
The other designated firecracker zones are the basketball courts at 12th and 24th streets, Purok Coca-Cola in Brgy 7 and Brgy. Tangub, San Juan Street in front of Brgy. 8 hall, vacant lot beside Alisbo funeral homes in Brgy. 9, the Vendors’ Plaza in Brgy. 10, Hilado Street in front of Banco De Oro in Brgy 17, and Purok Yanson in Brgy. 18, Pineda said.
FIRECRACKER ZONES
Pineda added that in Brgy. Mandalagan, residents can light up firecrackers and pyrotechnics near the Merg’s Store in Eroreco Subdivision and in open spaces beside the barangay hall, at the boundaries of Purok Active and Rabadilla, and in front of Brighton Subdivision before entering Purok Abkasa going to La Herencia. In Brgy. Bata, residents can use the open space in Purok Pinetree.
Based on the inventory made by the Bacolod City Police Office, the open spaces in front of the halls of barangays Punta Taytay, Banago, Estefania, 23, and 26, the spaces beside the halls of barangays Villamonte, 19, and 20, and the area behind Brgy. Montevista Hall are also firecracker zones.
It added that the road outside Brgy. 27 and the plaza of Purok 3 in Brgy. 41, the jeepney terminal in Brgy. Granada, the Brgy. Alangilan basketball court, and the vacant lot adjacent to it, and the basketball courts of barangays 28, 30, 31, and Alijis are also firecracker zones.
BCPO also advised residents from barangays 30 and 41 to use the vacant lots in puroks Mabinuligon and Purok Katilingban, respectively, while those from Brgy. Taculing may use the gymnasiums in Purok Gonzaga and Thass II.
The three firecracker zones in Brgy. Vista Alegre are the vacant lot at Zone 1 of Abada Escay, the Kabugwason open court, and the Purok Angela Gonzaga basketball court.
In Brgy. Singcang, the basketball courts of puroks Sigay, 1, 4, and 6, and the area in front of its barangay hall are also firecracker zones, and the area in front of San Juan Nepomuceno Church in Brgy. Sum-ag, in front of the hall of Brgy. Cabug, and the tanod outpost in front of its plaza, and the space behind the Brgy. Handumanan gymnasium.
Pineda said consumers can only buy firecrackers at the area behind the Pope John Paul Tower at the Reclamation area along Rizal Avenue in Brgy. 12.
Meanwhile, the Bago City government, through its official newsletter, The Citybridge, reported yesterday the first case of fireworks-related injury in the city.
The victim was a four-year old boy from Barangay Bacong, who suffered an eye injury due to boga, an illegal firecracker, the City Health Office said.
The Police Regional Office-6, through its Operations Division, has banned the holding of fireworks display by various establishments in Western Visayas in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. P/Lt. Col. Adrian Acollador, chief Regional Operations Management Division, in a memorandum, said activities, such as fireworks display, catch the attention of the public and bring about mass gatherings that could compromise the observance of health protocols.*with reports from CGS
