BFP, PNP, Media to conduct inspection in business establishments

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, December 21 (PIA) –- The composite team of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and  Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian City Press Club, Inc. will conduct this week an inspection in all business establishments to check if they are selling firecrackers this Christmas season.

City fire marshall Sr. Inspector Rheno Cimafranca in the weekly media forum at New Roxan Hotel hosted by the Philippine Information Agency said the team’s inspection will ensure fire safety not only to establishments but to the public as well.

Cimafranca said store owners are strictly prohibited to display firecrackers inside their establishments which is usually the cause of fire incidence during Christmas celebration. 

Even without a directive from the DILG, Cimafranca said the team is doing the activity every month of December to ensure a safe and fire-free holiday season. “We make sure that the pertinent provisions of the Fire Code are strictly observed by the establishment owners, particularly those who are peddling firecrackers and pyrotechnics,” he added.  

Records from the BFP shopwed that in 2010 and 2011, Pagadian City has recorded zero fire incident caused by firecrackers.  

This year, Cimafranca said, “the agency strives to achieve zero fire incident  through information dissemination campaign dubbed “ricorida’ to raise level of awareness of the public especially the children, in line with our efforts to reduce injuries and prevent deaths resulting from the use of firecrackers during the Christmas and New Year revelries.” Cimafranca explained.

Regional chief operations officer Supt. Clemente Alvarez said the campaign is strictly implemented in the 843 municipal fire stations in the region.

Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office asst. provincial director P/Supt. Jalilul Bandahala said the PNP is now closely coordinating with the team and encouraged local chief executives to actively participate in the government’s anti-firecracker campaign to reduce fire-cracker related incidents in their respective localities.  (ALT/12GCC/PIA,Pagadian City)