Iloilo City is placed under “Blue Alert” status, or the tight monitoring at the Iloilo City Operation Center, days to the New Year revelry to assure the public of a joyous and safe celebration.

“Whenever we are in a Blue Alert status, ang ating City DRRMC [Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council] is put on a 24/7 standby any given time na may mangyari within the city because of the holiday or may mga weather conditions na mangyayari,” according to Darwin Papa, head of the Iloilo City DRRMO Operation Center.

Aside from the CDRRMC, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has raised alert as well over the firecracker zone in the city to ensure that vendors follow the rules and regulations on orderly and safe selling of firecrackers.

BFP inspected vendors on the availability of fire extinguishers in stalls, sand, and water in case fire breaks out.

Safety signs on prohibited smoking and non-testing of firecrackers  are found posted conspicuously on stalls.

Karen Nazareta, a customer, said it has been a tradition of their family to greet the New Year with firecrackers. She travels to Iloilo City from the Province of Aklan to purchase firecrackers.

“Para lang yan sa amin kasi wini-welcome namin ang New Year at para magiging masaya ang mga bata,” Karen said.

Bibeth Sayson, one of the vendors, said that current sales are better compared to that in 2023.

They expect the throng of buyers three days to New Year’s Eve.

“Sa ngayon hindi pa kasi ang highlight ng bilihan 29, 30, 31. Pero at least kahapon [December 26, 2024] naka-P30,000 na ako,” Bibeth said.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Police Office has confiscated 34 units of “boga” or improvised cannon made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a synthetic thermoplastic material.

Thirteen of these were confiscated by personnel of Police Station 8, six of Police Station 5, while Police Stations 2 and 7 have seized five each; three from Police Station 3, and one each from Stations 1 and 6.