Firecrackers, Sinulog and Seniang

Let me wish everyone a very prosperous and  blessed New Year with the hope that 2015 will be a better year for all of us, economically and health-wise.

Last year was a good year for many of us, though there were some who suffered and were hit by illness and death of members of the family.

In the  next few weeks, Cebu City will be busier as it prepares for the  annual Sinulog festival which  attracts millions of visitors in honor of Señor Sto. Niño.

It is expected that there will also be criminal elements who will come to Cebu to  make money out of the festivity. But we know that our police will double their efforts in  intelligence gathering  to prevent crimes before, during and after the Sinulog festival.

The 2016 national election is coming up  so expect would-be candidates  to come  and take advantage of the Sinulog crowd to increase their popularity.

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Let me take up another unfortunate  issue which confronts  society every December.

I am talking about the numerous victims of firecracker explosions and pyrotechnic-related incidents, like fire. Authorities have not been remiss in giving reminders about the dangers of firecrackers and  yet, people continue to use them, not minding what may happen.

During the  New Year, a number of fires hit many parts of the country.  The fires were caused by the use of  pyrotechnics and firecrackers.

There is now a serious discussion in the national level to impose a national ban on the use of firecrackers. The President is open to the idea, but encourages more discussion first.

Another issue that should be seriously addressed by  authorities is the matter of stray bullets  from  indiscriminate firing of guns especially during the New Year, causing injury and killing a few innocent bystanders.

I don’t know what kind of minds people who indiscriminately discharge their firearms have, but what is unfortunate is that so far nobody has been sent to jail.

We don’t seem to have the technical capability to determine the source of  stray bullets.

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In the last part of December,   typhoon  Seniang hit the country, including southern Cebu and made landfall in  the town of Sibonga.

People didn’t  expect much damage from Seniang, so many were complacent when it  approached the targeted areas. As a result, Sibonga and southern towns bore serious damage to properties, bridges and  farmlands.

The road approach to the Dumlog  bridge which connects Sibonga to the rest of the south was destroyed,  making travel to the southern parts of Cebu difficult.

The estimated damage from Seniang, as declared by authorities, is about P900 million to P1 billion pesos. It will take quite sometime to rehabilitate the damaged areas.

Let me call on  fellow Cebuanos to help  Seniang victims  with relief goods  and attend  to  their needs.