Ban on substandard Christmas lights urged
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/05/2009 4:24 PM
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MANILA - The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is urging the government to place a ban on the sale of substandard Christmas lights as these are potential fire hazards.
Col. Pablito Cordeta, Regional Director of the Bureau of Fire Protection in the National Capital Region, said it should be "basic" for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strictly regulate the sale of substandard fairy lights during the holiday season.
According to BFP data, there were 20 reported cases of fires caused by electrical appliances on December 2 last year - half of which were caused by faulty Christmas lights.
The worst case recorded to date, Cordeta said, was when a huge fire originating from Christmas tree lights engulfed the home of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, resulting in the death of his daughter KC on December 17, 2004.
DTI Sec. Peter Favila, meanwhile, said it is standard procedure for the agency to monitor and sanction the illegal sale of substandard Christmas lights.
He said they will be coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to monitor the sale of these items.
Favila reminded the public to avoid buying substandard Christmas lights that are usually sold in cheap bundles, like P100 for 3 sets.
Shoppers should also look for the DTI's tamper-proof import commodity clearance (ICC) stickers which ensure that the product has passed safety standards.
The stickers also serve as proof that products are not old stocks dating from 2007.
Christmas lights safety tips
The Manila Electric Co. (MERALCO), a major power supplier, issued safety tips for the public in using Christmas lights this holiday season.
External Communications Manager Joe Zaldarriaga said the overloading of sockets or using octopus connections (or eight outlets plugged powered by one socket) for Christmas lights are the usual causes of fires.
He said Christmas lights should not be put close to flammable objects like carpets or curtains and that buyers should look for the "fire retardant" label before buying a Christmas tree.
Consumers should determine whether Christmas lights are for outdoors or indoors, and use them accordingly.
Christmas lights should not be kept on for long hours, and electrical wiring should be kept secure.
Zaldarriaga added that before using a string of Christmas lights, coil the wires first and check for cracks.
If the wires break or crack, exposing the filaments inside, throw the lights away. Report by Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News.
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