THE City Council recently approved requests of firecracker vendors for a permit to sell before the New Year’s Day celebration.
Despite initial plans to ban firecrackers in Baguio City, councilors recognized the vendors request promising only to sell legal fireworks approved under Republic Act 7183 or the Firecracker Trade Regulation Code.
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This is in response to the letter filed before the Council of Baguio Paputok Luces, Atbp. representative Elizabeth Conesi-Ong, proposing to the council the regulated use, distribution and sale of pyrotechnic devices instead of totally banning them.
The group told the council they will be using the Old City Auditorium as their venue for selling their products from December 20 to 31.
Despite earlier statements of Mayor Mauricio Domogan of his plans to ban the sale of firecrackers, he said lack of laws regulating the entry of firecrackers from other areas and national directives for banning of firecrackers hinders him from imposing the ban.
The mayor also said it is up to the council to approve the request of the vendors as long as what they are selling are legal pyrotechnics that are deemed safe to use.
Earlier, he said banning fireworks would be beneficial for the city to prevent environmental pollution and safety issues that would affect city residents.
In a recommendation by the Committee on Market Trade and Commerce Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez, prohibited firecrackers banned under the Firecracker Trade Regulation Code especially those that may explode and endanger people and those that may cause poisoning when ingested.
The council, meanwhile, approved sparklers, roman candles, roman fountains, trompillo, kwitis, pailaw, pop-pops and aerials like those produced by legitimate firecracker manufacturers Dragon, Tiger and Platinum.
The council also tasked the Baguio City Police Office, Baguio City Fire Department, Emergency Medical Service and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to strictly implement the guidelines.
Task Force Paputok was also requested by the council to be created by the city mayor, whose task will be to inspect the quantities and kinds of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices sold, in stock by the local distributor or retailer for submission to the City Administrators’ Office.
Only those entities authorized with special business permits in the city will be allowed to sell or distribute pyrotechnic products in the city.
Any violation of the existing law will be dealt with P20,000 to P30,000 in fine and imprisonment of six months to one year. - (SunStar / by JM Agreda)
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