Authorities in Metro Cebu have rolled out stringent measures to regulate the sale and use of fireworks and firecrackers for the 2025 holiday season, aiming to balance tradition with public safety.
Cebu City Centralizes Sales at SRP
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has taken a firm stance by signing Executive Order No. 47 on December 11, 2025. The order, which took effect immediately, confines all authorized selling and display of pyrotechnics to a single, controlled location: Pond F at the South Road Properties (SRP).
The designated selling period runs from December 18, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Only vendors with permits from the city's Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) are allowed to operate within the approximately 2.8-hectare area near the bridge and underground sections.
To mitigate fire risks, the EO mandates strict stall requirements:
- Stalls must be at least six meters apart.
- Each stall must post clear "No Smoking" signs.
- Functional fire extinguishers, water, and sand must be readily available on-site.
Mayor Archival emphasized that centralizing sales at the SRP will make monitoring and enforcement easier for the city government, which has also deployed a standby fire truck at the site for emergency response.
Prohibited Zones and Penalties
The executive order explicitly bans the use of firecrackers and fireworks in sensitive areas. The prohibition covers:
- Hospitals, clinics, and within a 50-meter radius of them.
- Schools, daycare centers, and public parks.
- Marketplaces and within 50 meters of churches.
Furthermore, testing or igniting fireworks within or near the SRP selling area is strictly forbidden. Violators will face confiscation of their goods and fines, with penalties scaled according to the gravity of the offense under local and national laws.
Archival highlighted the need to protect vulnerable groups, including children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, during the culturally significant Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Lapu-Lapu City's Parallel Measures on Mactan Island
Similarly, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia "Cindi" King-Chan issued Executive Order 72-A on December 15, 2025. This order establishes a controlled zone for fireworks along a segment of the Mactan Circumferential Road, from Barangay Canjulao to Barangay Babag.
Authorized vending is permitted only from December 16 until 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2025. A total of 82 vendors have been accredited under the city's Kaabag Fireworks Retailers program.
Their guidelines are equally detailed. Stalls must:
- Be spaced six meters apart with a one-meter setback from the road.
- Display the stall number, owner's name, and permit prominently.
- Be constructed with approved materials like hard wood and galvanized sheet roofing.
- Have fire extinguishers, water storage, and "No Smoking" and "No Testing" signs.
Vendors must secure multiple clearances and attend a Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) safety seminar. The order strictly prohibits minors from assisting at stalls. Non-compliance can lead to apprehension, confiscation of goods, and permit revocation.
Extended Vigilance for a Safe Festive Season
Both city leaders call for heightened community awareness. Mayor Archival has instructed barangay disaster teams to remain on high alert from December 2025 through the Sinulog festival in January 2026.
In Lapu-Lapu, a multi-agency task force involving the BFP, traffic management, and local barangays will enforce the rules. The concerted efforts in Cebu and Lapu-Lapu City underscore a regional commitment to preventing injuries and fires, ensuring that holiday revelry does not come at the cost of public safety.
