Local authorities in Mandaue City have issued a warning about rising fire risks and called on barangay officials to tighten enforcement of laws against illegal electrical tapping and open burning of waste as the region prepares for the impact of El Niño.
Urgent Call to Village Disaster Teams
Councilor Eugene Andaya, chair of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, made an urgent request for village disaster teams to inspect and enforce local ordinances to prevent preventable tragedies during the dry season.
According to Andaya, the combination of dangling wires and undeclared electrical connections commonly found in crowded areas of many barangays are the primary causes of house fires.
"We already have an existing ordinance regarding that, specifically concerning the illegal tapping of wires. It leads to short circuits and overloads. That is ultimately what causes these fires," Andaya said.
Heightened Risk Due to Dry Season
The councilor emphasized that the risk has increased due to the onset of the dry season. He warned that even minor activities, such as burning waste outdoors, could lead to disaster because the environment is extremely dry.
"It is the dry season, and it is dangerous to burn waste because fire spreads very quickly when the grass and surroundings are extremely dry," Andaya explained.
Strict Penalties for Violators
To curb these practices, Andaya pushed for strict imposition of penalties. Under existing barangay ordinances, violators face fines starting at PHP 1,000 for the first offense, which can increase up to PHP 5,000.
The councilor noted that although these illegal connections in narrow alleys are widespread and difficult to monitor, the responsibility for safety lies at the grassroots level.
