Don't buy smuggled, illegal pyrotechnics products

PPMDA's Celso Cruz shows legal fireworks products

MALOLOS CITY—Bulacan fireworks manufacturers warned buyers against smuggled pyrotechnics products which penetrated more than 50 percent of the Philippine market.

As this developed, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) office in Bulacan released names of pyrotechnics manufacturers in the province with product standard (PS) mark and license, while the Department of Health (DOH)continue warn the public against use of firecrackers.

Joven Ong of Dragon Fireworks based in San Rafael, Bulacan said local buyers must carefully check pyrotechnics products that they are buying in preparation for the holidays.

He told DZMM radio in an interview yesterday that smuggled pyrotechnics products has penetrated more than 50 percent of the domestic market.

Ong added that smuggled products are sold at lower prices because its manufacturers and dealers did not pay taxes.

“Our biggest advantage is our quality, hindi namin basta ibinebenta ang aming products, we follow strict quality control,” he said.

As one of the biggest pyrotechnics manufacturers in South East Asia, Ong said that Dragon Fireworks continue to innovate with new products every year.

He also reminded pyrotechnics users to be more responsible by reading instruction before and after lighting fireworks and other pyrotechnics products.

As this developed, DTI-Bulacan released a list of pyrotechnics manufacturers in the province which secured a PS mark and license for their products.

Rhine Aldana, head of DTI-Bulacan said that PS mark is one of the guarantees that a product is of high quality.

For pyrotechnics products, she said that it means that the manufacturers strictly followed guidelines in the manufacture of firecrackers and fireworks.

The PS mark and license recipients in Bulacan based on the DTI list are  Diamond Fireworks in Pulilan town, Dragon Fireworks in San Rafael, Platinum Fireworks  and Phoenix Fireworks in Santa Maria, Tiger Fireworks in Angat, Nation Fireworks in Baliwag, Pyrokreation Fireworks in Sta. Maria, SPM Fireworks in Bocaue, Double L Fireworks in Pandi, Ercy’s Fireworks in San Ildefonso, RF Fireworks in Bocaue, ZN Fireworks, A. Santiago Fireworks, Purity Fireworks all in Baliwag town and Yanco Fireworks in Bocaue town.

Illegal and oversized firecracker

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Enrique Ona reiterated his call against the use of firecrackers during the holidays to avoid injuries, while encouraging community based fireworks displays.

In an interview with DZMM radio,Ona also called on parents to watch their children ansd advised them not to pick unexploded firecrackers.

Earlier, Bulacan Police Director Senior Superintendent Joel Orduna warned buyers and sellers  of oversized and illegal pyrotechnics products.

He said that they have deployed plainclothes police officers who are specifically tasked to act a buyer and illegal pyrotechnics products and arrest sellers.  Dino Balabo

NLEX-SCTEX braces for holiday rush

MALOLOS CITY—The Tollways Management Corporation (TMC) is bracing for increase in traffic volume along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) due to holiday rush.

Francisco Dagohoy, media relations specialist of the TMC, a subsidiary of the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) and operator of the NLEX said that in the past four weeks they observed increase of traffic volume by at least five percent.

They estimated that starting Monday, December 23 traffic volume along the NLEX will increase by 20 percent from their daily average.

“Traffic is expected to  build up  in the early afternoon until late in the evening of December 23. On the other hand the heavy volume of vehicles going back to Manila is seen on the afternoon of January 1 and morning of January 2,” Dagohoy said in an official statement issued yesterday.

To address increasing traffic volume, NLEX Toll Operations will beef up its manpower during the said days.

Ambulant tellers will be deployed at the Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue and Dau Toll Plazas to facilitate lane transactions.

Spare lanes will also be used to shorten queue of vehicles during peak periods. The Bocaue Toll Plaza will also have ambulant tellers on January 1 and 2 in anticipation of the heavy volume of vehicles going back to Manila on these dates.

NLEX Traffic Operations will also deploy ten stationary patrol vehicles in selected areas in order to keep the road safe and traffic to flow smoothly.

Motorcycle riders and roving patrol vehicles will be ready to assist in the Interchanges in case of traffic build up.

Dagohoy said traffic is expected to build up at the Bocaue Toll Exit in the last week of December.

To manage this, TMC deployed additional manpower in the area beginning December 16.

At SCTEX, the same level of service can be expected. Traffic build up going to the provinces is expected at Tarlac Exit, San Miguel Exit and Tipo Exit as early as December 20, the weekend before Christmas.

Volume of traffic entering the Mabalacat Toll Plaza will even increase on December 23 as well as December 28 and 29.  The affected toll plazas will be adequately manned to address the influx of motorists.

Manual and counter flow lanes will be placed at San Miguel and Tarlac Exit respectively to accommodate the high volume of traffic while Tipo Toll Plaza will also have standby manual lanes in the event that the volume of motorist will increase. 

Heavy volume of Manila bound motorists is expected on the afternoon of December 25 and January 1 and in the early morning of December 26 and January 2 at the Mabalacat Toll Plaza.

Motorists can expect sufficient number of personnel and equipment to shorten the queue at the plaza and maintain the best level of service possible.

Manual toll booths will be deployed at the said toll plaza to address the high volume of traffic.  SCTEX traffic during the holidays is expected to increase by as much as 25% from the normal daily average.

Dagohoy said motorists can also expect adequate number of patrol crews along the carriageway and at the toll plazas to assist in during vehicle breakdown and conduct traffic management. 

Ambulances and tow trucks will be strategically deployed for faster response during incidents.  Also no major maintenance works will be conducted during the holidays so as not to disrupt the traffic flow. 

Portalets will also be stationed at Mabalacat Toll Plaza (before the entry), Tarlac Toll Plaza (after the exit) and two at the Subic bound (Km 21 and 29) portion of the SCTEX.

Advance toll fee collection for vehicles going to the Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEX) will be implemented at the Mabalacat Toll Plaza. Thirteen collection points in the area will be deployed from December 20 to 28.  Dino Balabo

MNTC ready to take over SCTEX, and bid for CALA

MALOLOS CITY—Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) is ready to take over operation of the 93-kilometers Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

A unit of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investment Corporation (MPIC), MNTC is also among the top-bidders who recently pre-qualified for the proposed 40 kilometers Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALA).

Ramoncito Fernandez, president and chief operating officer (CEO) of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation said that President Benigno Aquino is happy with their proposal on the take over of the SCTEX.

“We are ready anytime. We are just waiting for the formal announcement of Malacanang,” Fernandez said in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the NLEX-SCTEX first short film contest on Monday.

Part of the MNTC proposal is the 50-50 sharing of revenues and expenses in the operation of the SCTEX, between the MNTC and the government.

Fernandez said that even the rehabilitation of the damage embankment on the Pasig-Potrero River will be shouldered by MNTC and the company.

He added that part of their plant in the full operation of the SCTEX is the integrated toll collection system

Earlier, MNTC offered a P20-Billion concession to the government for the operation of SCTEX which remains under the management of Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

As this developed, Fernandez also announced that MNTC is among the four bidders who prequalified for possible operation of the 40 kilometer CALA.

He said that CALA will stretch from Kawit section of the Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) and will pass through Silang town to Sta. Rosa in Laguna  and will eventually interconnect with the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

The new toll road is seen to shorten travel time to Tagaytay, but Fernandez said that its main targets are motorists wanting to cross from SLEX to Cavitex and vice versa.

Fernandez said they are hoping that bidding for CALA will be implemented by April.  (Dino Balabo)

'Iron Man’ brings cheers to Yolanda victims

JOY TO SURVIVORS. Clad in Iron Man’s suit, call center supervisor Zamora of Cebu City posed for a souvenir picture with children at the MacArthur Park in Barangay Baras, Palo, Leyte. (Dino Balabo)

PALO, Leyte—Silently. he slipped into this calamity ravaged town in Visayas, but his maroon and gold suit is easily recognizable.

As he get off his family van, children shouted “Iron Man” and he started distributing candies and chocolates.

Yes, the maroon and gold suit is Iron Man’s, but the man inside is no man of iron, but of a soft heart. He is Paul Vincent Zamora, a 31-year-old call center supervisor from Cebu City who along with his wife visited his in-laws in Tacloban City on Saturday.

It was Zamora’s second visit to Tacloban City since Supertyphoon Yolanda ravaged the city. However, it was his fi rst time to wear his three month- old “Iron Man” suit.

“I just want to bring joy to people especially to children since Christmas is approaching,” said Zamora in an Interview at the General Douglas MacArthur Park in Barangay Baras here on Saturday.

Zamora was chanced upon by members of the Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists (PNEJ) visiting Leyte and Samar provinces over the weekend.

 

Iron Man with PNEJ members

He said he had just visited two villages in Tacloban City and handed chocolates to children while clad in “Iron Man” suit.

After visiting Tacloban, he went to MacArthur Park here for his wife to shoot photos of him at the park.

The suit was made from rubber materials and was painted with maroon and gold colors.

According to Zamora, a friend from Cebu City made the suit for him, and he has been wearing it in their house in Cebu.

He said that his friend is a good artist who used to produce costumes for local movies. Dino Balabo

Angat Dam break flood map--Malolos, Guiguinto, Balagtas, Plaridel

Angat Dam break flood map--Malolos, Guiguinto, Balagtas, Plaridel

Angat Dam break flood map--Malolos, Guiguinto, Balagtas, Plaridel