BACOLOD CITY – Acting City Mayor El Cid Familiaran has ordered the formation of the local Task Force Paputok 2019 to strictly implement Executive Order (EO) No. 28, Series of 2017 which provides for the regulation of the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices during the holiday season.
Under the EO, the use of firecrackers shall be confined to community fireworks displays only and shall be done in the designated areas or firecracker zone of every barangay as prescribed by village chiefs.
Last year, only 31 of 61 barangays in Bacolod City have submitted their designated firecracker zones.
Task Force Head Ernesto Pineda said he hopes that for this year, all the barangays will submit their list of designated firecracker zones, because if not, any firecracker-related activity in their respective areas is considered illegal.
With the establishment of the task force, Pineda hopes that the firecracker-related injuries in the city will decrease this 2019 as compared to the 15 last year.
“I am hoping that the firecracker-related injuries will decrease or better yet, none at all,” said Pineda.
Barangay officials are set to meet on Nov. 22 to discuss and submit their respective designated areas or firecracker zone for the holiday season.
Meanwhile, 68 vendors have secured their permits to sell the allowed firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices as of yesterday, Nov. 20.
The types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that may be manufactured, sold, distributed and used are the following: Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Judah’s Belt, Paper Caps, Pulling of Strings, Sky Rocket, Butterfly, Fountain, Jumbo Regular and Special, Luces, Mabuhay, Roman Candle, Sparklers, Trompillo, Whistle Device, and other types equivalent to the foregoing in explosives content and pyrotechnic devices.
The city identified the special place for sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices at the back of Pope John Paul Tower, Rizal Avenue, Reclamation Area.
