BFP, cops tighten firecracker watch in 3 Makati villages

Firefighters and police personnel tightened anew on Friday their firecracker watch around three villages in Makati City near the pipeline of First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC). Radio dzBB reported the police and Bureau of Fire Protection repeatedly reminded residents there not to light firecrackers. On the other hand, residents in the area had erected a stage where they were to hold a party instead of lighting firecrackers to welcome the New Year. Covered by the no-firecracker rule were Bangkal, Magallanes and Pio del Pilar villages, which the FPIC pipeline passes through. The city government had imposed the firecracker ban to prevent a potential disaster stemming from firecracker igniting oil that may still be in the pipes. FPIC's pipeline was shut down earlier this year after it was found to have leaks. The pipeline brings fuel of Shell and Chevron from their Batangas refineries to their depots in Pandacan in Manila. City rescue and disaster management workers were placed on full alert until Sunday to strictly enforce the firecracker ban. — LBG, GMANews.TV