Rama to council: Prioritize pyrotechnics ordinance

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama told the Cebu City Council to prioritize the passage of a proposed ordinance regulating the sale and distribution of firecrackers and pyrotechnics within the city.

Rama said that it is crucial to approve the ordinance at this time because a few days or weeks from now will be peak season for firecrackers since Christmas and New Year is coming soon.

The mayor wants to avoid the same confusion last year where they were questioned for seizing millions worth of pyrotechnics because of the absence of an ordinance prohibiting the display and selling of pyrotechnics in the malls.

To recall, the city seized P3 million worth of pyrotechnics owned by Pyroworks Pyrotechnic Perfection last year using a resolution passed by the council as basis.

The resolution prohibits the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics outside the designated firecracker zone at the South Road Properties.   The pyrotechnics confiscated from Pyroworks were displayed at a mall in the city.

The legality of the move was questioned because of the absence of an ordinance which is more compelling than a resolution.

Rama said that an ordinance will strengthen their efforts to regulate the sale of pyrotechnics within the city for public safety.

The proposed ordinance regulating the distribution and sale of pyrotechnics is now under review by the lawyer councilors.

The city council wants to pass the ordinance before Christmas because the peak season for firecrackers starts on the third week of December all the way to January.

This ordinance seeks to specifically identify the types of firecrackers and pyrotechnics that must be sold only at the SRP and those that can be displayed in establishments outside the SRP.

Mostly, firecrackers known to be dangerous like rebentador, El Diablo, Judas’ Belt, fountains, roman candles, mines, wheels or trompilo, rockets, combinations, shells and shells in mortar, among others will only be allowed at the SRP.

The ordinance seeks to ensure the safety of the public from fire and other incidents that might be caused by firecrackers.

This ordinance was created following an incident two years ago in Mandaue where firecracker stalls near a gasoline station were burned killing three people, two of them children.  (FREEMAN)