Firecracker total ban pushed in city

By Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY – Stricter measures on the use of pyrotechnics will be implemented here following calls from Mayor Mauricio Domogan to totally ban its use within city limits.

“I hope there will be no more selling of firecrackers in the city,” Domogan said during a media forum here Wednesday.

The mayor sought to ban firecrackers for health, safety and environmental reasons.

“It is better if we have a centralized pyrotechnic display in the city so everybody can enjoy without being hurt or injured,” Domogan said.

           

The mayor added he supported the Department of Health’s move to eradicate the use of firecrackers through its ‘Oplan Iwas Paputok’ campaign started in 1994.

This year, the agency launched APIR-“Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction” campaign towards a safe Holiday celebrations, a move to minimize the morbidity and mortality from using fireworks.

Domogan said, he was “confident that city councilors would make the ‘best decision” following the request of certain groups of fireworks vendors to ply their trade in the city.

The city government has approved regulations to prohibit sale and use of firecrackers and fireworks  under City Ordinance Number 144 series of 1951 including its penalties.

In 2009, the City Council passed City Ordinance 53 amending provisions of the ban of firecrackers in the city to include sale and use of firecrackers such as big triangle, five star, watusi, pla-pla, pillbox, mother rockets, firecrackers without labels, and others of similar nature.             

The ordinance also expressed a total ban of all kinds of firecrackers prohibited by Republic Act No. 7183 or the Firecracker Regulation Code.

The amendment came as a rise in firework related injuries have been reported by the DOH in 2008, the city having the most number of cases.

Penalties for persons violating the ordinance include, for the first offense-a fine of P2,000 and confiscation of the firecracker.

Second offense is a fine of P3,000 while third is imprisonment of not more than 30 days and revocation of business permit.

Domogan however said firecrackers can still be bought outside the city even if a total ban is passed. “The amended ordinance should also include the confiscation of firecrackers to make it more effective.”