BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan is pushing for a ban on the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics, except for those used in city-sponsored special occasions. The use of firecrackers should be limited to a specific time and place, with safety measures and crowd control in place, he said.
The mayor is even hoping for the issuance of an executive order from the national government for a total ban of firecrackers.
A city council ordinance in should also be crafted to make the use of firecrackers bought outside the city a criminal offense, the mayor pointed out.
No individual nor property should be endangered during celebrations, he also said, noting reports of unknown or non-environmental-friendly substances in some variants of firecrackers.
He also asked firecracker-selling groups to organize themselves, fulfill requirements of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and join the bidding to qualify as supplier of pyrotechnics. This was his reply to Agnes Montoya’s Paputok atbp group request for them to be a priority bidder-supplier of pyrotechnic.
As to claims that several groups sell firecrackers in the public market and around the central business district, Mayor asked for help. Report those who sell illegally, so their wares could be confiscated and destroyed, he said.
Despite warning, firecrackers are used to celebrate the yuletide season, specially new year’s eve, with accidents recorded in health facilities both within and outside of the city./Julie G. Fianza
