SunStar: Crash sparks calls for strict kite-flying rules

Following the crash-landing of an Air Force helicopter in Cebu that left at least nine persons dead, law enforcers in Cebu were reminded over the weekend to regulate kite-flying in the area. Sun-Star Cebu reported Monday that the Cebu City council sought the strict enforcement of the ban on kite-flying on roads, streets, bridges, alleys and roads. Major Gen. Pedro Insierto, Air Force tactical operations center head, added that it is the job of the local government units to regulate kite-flying. Insierto said kite-flying is prohibited within 2.5 kilometers of the center of the runway but some people flew their kites higher than this. He said one of the kites used was the propaganda material of a politician. He declined to give the politician's name. "There should be no flying of kites in the entire Mactan," Insierto said. Councilor Edgardo Labella said that while kite-flying is a favorite pastime during summer, it is dangerous especially when the kites snag power lines and electrocute children. He noted City Ordinance 1471 sets the guidelines for kite-flying, which includes the provision that children below 12 years old should be accompanied by an adult. It also orders that kites should be flown only in an open area of about 3,000 square meters. Since it is difficult to find an open area in Cebu City, especially in the urban villages, children risk flying kites on roads and even on top of buildings. Visayan Electric Company Inc. (VECO) spokeswoman Ethel Natera similarly reminded Cebu City residents of Ordinance 1471, and urged lawmakers of neighboring towns and cities to enact a similar measure. She said that if the towns and cities under its coverage area will have a similar law, it would greatly help reduce the number of accidents and power interruptions. Veco serves Metro Cebu, up to Liloan town in the north and San Fernando town in the south. Investigators suspect the helicopter that crash-landed snagged kites near the air base as shown by nylon threads in the helicopter motor’s swash plate. Meanwhile, a day after the crash, the four-meter-wide Humay-Humay Road in Gun-ob village, Lapu-Lapu City became an instant magnet for curious onlookers. Armed with camera-phones and still and video cameras, people took shots of the wreckage. Some of them left when they could no longer bear the stench. Since there was no other road to the market and church, some residents had to enter the cordoned area but were told not to get near the wreckage. Even after the chopper and damaged tricycles were taken off the road later in the morning, traffic at the site was still slow, as vehicles slowed down to look at the wreckage. Civilians killed in the incident were identified as Odelon Acompado, 36, who owned and drove the Kawasaki tricycle hit by the chopper; Rey Laida Ledesma, 25, a welder; Jenevieve Amparado Garcia, 21; Laura Jumao-as, 45; Leticia Dungog, 55; Maria Nenita Dungon, 38; and Charmagne Bejerano, 25. Most of those who died on the ground were commuters on their way home, and included a fresh college graduate looking forward to starting her first job. Injured were Noel Ymbong, driver of the Yamaha STX tricycle, and passenger Casimira Yanson. The members of the PAF crew were conducting lesson 12 of the pilot qualifying course. Captain Allan Villagarcia and Staff Sgt. Johnny Reyes survived while colleagues 1Lt. Jesus Arnel Embat and Sgt. Micheal Gabino were killed. - GMANews.TV