Bocaue mayor mulls transferring fireworks stalls to less populated areas 

Bocaue, Bulacan— Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna on Friday said they are studying transferring the firework stalls away from populated areas following the explosion that killed two people, injured 20 others, and brought damage to other establishments. 

However, Tugna is not keen on establishing a "Fireworks City," saying it may pose a greater danger.

“We are considering that (transferring stalls) but not necessarily ikukulong sila sa iisang lugar lamang. Nagkaroon na ng discussion sa sinasabing Fireworks City na ia-isolate sila pero ang isang posibleng danger ay kung may isang magmishandle ng kanilang products, pwede mag scatter sa kabuuan ng place,” she said in a press conference.

“Kaya ang nakikita namin baka masyado ang damage dahil sila ay magkakasama, all in one basket ang pagsabog. Masusing pinag-aaralan namin yan,” she said added.

She said they are now reviewing the town’s comprehensive land use plan because they cannot just vanish the firecracker stalls from their present locations.

“Nire-review ang Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the town. We need to review ‘yung ganitong klaseng bagay kung nararapat pa kasi as we’ve learned hindi pa po kami buhay, itong area na ito ay tindahan na ng paputok,” she said.

“That is one big consideration that we need to take note of dahil alam natin na sa bagong panahon we need to have stricter measure na kung sakali mang may sumabog na ganito ay hindi ganito kalaki ang damage,” she added.

At present the stalls are located along the highways of Bocaue particularly Governor Halili and McArthur, where the stall of fatality Gina Gonzales can be found.

There were commercial and residential establishments near the firecracker stalls and even schools.

Senior Supt. Jose Malayo, deputy chief of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO), said they will be having brainstorming sessions to discuss what should be included in the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 7183 which regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers.

He said if that would not be sufficient, they will be asking for the amendment of the law.

“Our personnel were able to recognize na may kulang na dapat ipasok sa IRR o kung hindi kaya sa IRR, we might be requesting for an amendment of the law,” he said.

Supt. Soledad Arciso, assistant chief of the Education and Enforcement Management Division of FEO, said one of the things they want to be clarified either in the IRR or the law itself was the determination of the term safe distance.

“Yung sa term na safe distance dapat ma-determine sa batas kung gaano ba kalayo ang safe distance para sa dealer at sa yung sa distance sa populated area, pwede madagdag sa law para mas clear sa mga implementing agencies,” she said.

Stricter implementation

To ensure that firecracker companies will follow the law, Tugna said the local government will now be more strict in implementing it.

“Ngayon on the part of LGU, nakipag-usap na tayo sa kanila na talagang yung implementasyon ng batas at sinabi na siguro na in the past walang masample-an ng penalty o imprisonment, ngayon po pasensiyahan na, talagang iimplement na natin ang batas,” she said.

“At kung kinakailangan na sila ay ma-penalize, so be it, tanggapin nila yun,” she said.

A witness told arson investigators that unauthorized chemicals were stored at the stall when the explosion happened on Wednesday morning. 

The Bocaue local government, the police, and FEO said they have been conducting regular inspections on the fireworks stalls and found no violation.

“On Gina Gonzales’ store (for example), nag-conduct kami ng inspection noong March 2016 nung nag-renew siya ng permit, wala 'yung mga hazard na 'yun,” said Supt. Charlie Cabradilla, Bocaue Police Station chief.

He said it is possible that the chemicals were brought to the stall after the inspection. — VVP, GMA News