Motorcade held in Dagupan to drumbeat "Oplan: Iwas Paputok"

DAGUPAN CITY, Dec. 31 (PNA) — A motorcade was held in Dagupan on Tuesday, a day before New Year’s eve, to exhort the people to avoid exploding firecrackers when they welcome 2009.

Spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Dagupan East (RCDE), led by its incoming president Mario Lim, the activity was in support of the “Oplan: Iwas Paputok” launched both by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Former Dagupan City Councilor Alex de Venecia, RCDE spokesman, said the motorcade called on the people of Dagupan and Pangasinan to adopt the motto “Safety First” by not exploding firecrackers anymore to prevent injuries on New Year.

The motorcade was participated in by personnel from the police, Region 1 Medical Center, Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and the media.

De Venecia said their call for people not to explode firecracker is non-political and is being made with great respect to human lives that might be hurt or lost as a result of pyrotechnics.

“We call on people to practice safety first through the Rotary way,” said de Venecia as he anticipated lesser firecracker explosion this year.

For his part, Lim said the motorcade was so successful based on the number of people and civic clubs that participated.

Other rotarians who joined the motorcade called on Dagupan to adopt what they are doing in Davao City which is implementing zero firecracker explosion every New Year’s Day.

They said that if fire cracker explosion cannot really be avoided, there should be a designated firecracker zone in every barangay. (PNA)