The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has prohibited consumers from bringing lighters and testing firecrackers at designated selling areas in General Santos City.

Several vendors have started selling firecrackers ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations in the city. Various firecrackers including pyrotechnics, kwitis, sparklers, and other permitted items, are now on display at several stalls at the Oval Plaza.

“Ito range natin is P180 (kwitis) kung marami bibil maka-less ka. Ito yung uso pang harry potter around P300. This is is P250 (whistle),” a vendor, Nor-Lailanie Acmad, said.

BFP-GenSan said 14 vendors have, so far, been allowed to operate after undergoing fire safety orientation. These vendors have prepared fire extinguishers, buckets of water, and sacks of sand that would enable them to respond to fire-related incidents.

Authorities reminded the public that bringing lighters and other flammable objects into the area is prohibited.

Testing of firecrackers within the designated selling zone is also not allowed.

BFP said a firetruck and personnel will remain on standby to monitor the area and ensure that no lighters or firecrackers are used ot tested on-site.

“Mag-standby tayo ng isang firetruck along with the personnel to check, to assist, the vendors para hindi talaga makapasok doon ang mga lighter, mapaglaruan, matestingan  kasi ayaw natin na mangyari tulad ng wayback 2009 na nagtesting doon sa Oval plaza, pumunta doon sa ma paninda, naubos, pumutok, lahat at may 3 ang nasawi,” BFP-GenSan Chief Community Relations Officer, SFO3 Romeo Gentapanan, said.

BFP added that no other area aside from the Oval Plaza is authorized to sell firecrackers. Vendors selling firecrackers by the road – often sourced online without permits – will be arrested and their items will be confiscated.

“Naa tay masakmit ana atung i-ccordinate ang PNP Cybercrime…Daghan kaayo last time ana niadtung miaging tuig na confiscate nato diya sa kalsada isingit nila sa ilang baligya which is illegal and destructive kaayo,” General Santos City Police Office Director, Col. Nicomedes Olaivar, Jr., said.