Valenzuela City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) – Valenzuela City, and Valenzuela City Health Office (VCHO)  are now gearing up for the New Year celebrations, especially anticipating the accidents that could be caused by firecrackers.

 

“For the last three Christmases and New Year’s Eves, no fire has broken out in the city, and we want to keep it that way,” City Mayor REX Gatchalian said on Monday, December 23.

 

BFP Fire Superintendent Jose Mel Lagan said that the office has been holding a safety information campaign all over the city since the start of December.

 

Lagan shared, “As a safety measure for the holidays, homeowners should unplug every electrical connection when leaving the house. Valves of liquefied petroleum gas tanks should also be shut."

 

On the other hand, VCHO is also conducting its own information campaign, particularly educating city residents on preventing physical injuries.

 

VCHO Health Emergency Services Coordinator, Dr. Kaier Camlian expressed, “Sa halip na paputok, gumamit na lang ng torotot o kaldero (Residents can just blow toy horns or bang metal pots instead of lighting firecrackers).”

 

The two city government-run hospitals, Valenzuela Emergency Hospital and Valenzuela Medical Center, have also prepared their workforce of doctors, nurses, and other medical aids, to attend to casualties that may occur.

 

Last year, there were 27 firecracker-related injuries reported from December 21, 2012 to January 1, 2013.

 

Meanwhile, the 400-strong officers of PNP – Valenzuela City have sealed their firearms since Friday, December 20.

 

Acting on a PNP directive for deterring indiscriminate firing during the holidays, commanders of police community precincts and heads of units and sections sealed the nozzles of their subordinates’ firearms with masking tape and affixed their signatures on them. The firearms would remain sealed until January 1, 2014.

 

Mayor REX expressed that he is against indiscriminate firing during New Year’s Eve. “There are better ways to welcome New Year instead of firing guns and risking innocent lives,” he said.

 

It can be recalled that Stephanie Nicole D. Ella, a seven year-old girl from a nearby city, died of a stray bullet fired indiscriminately by an irresponsible gun holder on January 2, 2013.

 

PNP – Valenzuela City has reported that it has yet to apprehend any violator of the Republic Act 7130, or “An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Sale of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices”.

 

BFP data shows six pyrotechnic dealers operating in the city today.