Selling firecrackers in non-designated areas ‘illegal’

CEBU, Philippines —  Local police units are encouraged to apprehend individuals selling firecrackers within their jurisdictions while they are yet to designate firecracker zones.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Rene Bentulan, chief of the Explosives Division of the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU) of the Police Regional Office, clarified on Tuesday, December 13, that only those areas that applied for a retailer's permit are allowed to sell firecrackers.

Bentulan gave the statement after hearing reports that several vendors on sidewalks, particularly at the Carbon Public Market, are already selling firecrackers.

He said these were somewhat considered illegal at the time as they had not yet received retailer's permit applications from Cebu City.

"Karun wala pakoy nadawat nga application (retailer's permit) sa ilaha sa Cebu City...that is illegal," said Bentulan.

He cited Executive Order 28, issued by Former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017, stating that it is within the responsibility of the local chief executives to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations on firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices within their territorial jurisdiction.

He said that based on the recent RCSU data, they had received more than 200 retailer's permit applications from Negros Oriental, Cebu Province, and Siquijor, but none were from Cebu City.

He also emphasized that retailers must only source their products from the three and only authorized firecracker manufacturers, particularly in Cebu — EB & A Fireworks Industry, Avila Pyrotechnics Firecrackers Mfg., and Rambolet Firecracker Manufacturing Corporation.

These companies are all found in Barangay Babag, Lapu Lapu City.

Bentulan stated retailers manufacturing their own firecrackers is also an illegal act.

As stated in Section 11 of the Republic Act 7183, any person who manufactures, sells, distributes, and other pyrotechnic devices illegally will pay a fine of not less than P20,000 nor more than P30,000 or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year, or both at the discretion of the court.

In addition, cancellation of license and business permit is possible. — Robhe Jane Yara with Romeo Marantal, JMD (FREEMAN)