‘Only 50 vendors allowed in SRP’

Talisay City also regulates selling of firecrackers

THE Cebu City Government will allow 50 vendors who can sell firecrackers at the South Road Properties (SRP) as Christmas and New Year celebrations are fast approaching.

A vacant area at the SRP, near the Sugbu building, is the only designated area to sell firecrackers during the holidays.

However, the City will only prepare the site and monitor the safety compliance of the vendors, said Public Information Officer Nagiel Bañacia.

Unlike in the previous years, a private bidder who won the bidding for the Kasadya sa SRP will manage everything, including those who will qualify to sell firecrackers, Bañacia said.

“Everything that will involve selling at the SRP for the Christmas season will be under the management of the private bidder, including the rental rates of the spaces, among others,” Bañacia said.

After it was bidded out last October, the City is expected to earn P2.6 million from the holding of this year’s Kasadya sa SRP, which will be open from December this year to February next year.

In an earlier interview, City Administrator Veronica Morelos said the City is guaranteed to earn P2.6 million for the whole duration of the activity since the contract provides that the winning bidder will pay an amusement tax amounting to P2 million.

The lone bidder of the carnival, however, said they are willing to pay P2.6 million.

Inquire

Bañacia said the vendors who want to sell firecrackers may come to SRP anytime of the day to inquire about stall rentals since a representative of the private bidder will be there to entertain them.

As initially agreed, vendors can start selling during the week leading to the Christmas day.

Since it was bidded out, Bañacia said City will not shell out any amount of public funds and resources for the holding of the activity since the bidder will shoulder everything.

All standard safety procedures in the selling of firecrackers as set under the law will still be strictly imposed, Bañacia said, once they start their operation.

Aside from the personnel of City Hall who will constantly check on the safety compliance of the firecracker vendors, the Cebu City Police Office and the Bureau of Fire Protection will also send their representatives for monitoring.

Talisay City

The Talisay City Council wants the City to regulate the sale of firecrackers during the holidays.

In a resolution, City Councilor Socrates Fernandez urged the local police to conduct operations against firecracker sellers, especially those selling in unsafe areas.

Fernandez said the City is set to identify a common firecracker selling area soon.

With the holidays just four weeks away, Fernandez urged the local police to check the selling of firecrackers, especially in commercial establishments in the city.

Fernandez fears that the selling of firecrackers outside the authorized firecracker zone may cause accidents.

An authorized common firecracker zone is where sellers of firecrackers can sell and test their products without causing due problems to the surrounding communities.

He also urged the barangays to assist the police in preventing the selling of firecrackers in their areas.

City Councilor Raul Cabañero, who heads the City’s Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), told reporters that he and other barangay officials support Fernandez’s plan.

But if it were up to him, Cabañero would rather banned the selling of firecrackers in the city to avoid any accidents during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Cabañero said that instead of putting a firecracker zone in Barangay Lagtang like in recent years, he suggested to the City to put it at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Earlier, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued a work stoppage order against sellers of pyrotechnics and firecrackers.

But Bello said he will lift the order for establishments who are compliant with labor and safety standards.