Zamboanga
City: Wishing
to follow the footsteps of Mayor
Duterte of Davao, the city council has imposed a permanent ban on all
types of firecrackers and pyrotechnics, reports reaching The Philippine Preview
said.
The move came from Councilor
VG Guingona who earlier only wants to regulate the use, sale, storage and
distribution of firecrackers and pyrotechnics devices.
Guingona’s ordinance, which
pushed for a total ban of said commodities here in the city, was approved on
third and final reading last Tuesday, Sept. 30.
While the ordinance
allows the use of this city as transshipment point for all firecracker and
pyrotechnic devices destined for nearby provinces and cities, firecrackers in transit
shall be stored temporarily in warehouses and other storage facilities deemed
safe by authorities for a period of not more than six days maximum.
Guingona stated he decided
to move forward after a lengthy talk with Mayor Duterte during a legislation
seminar he attended in Davao last week.
To recall, Davao City implemented
a total ban on firecrackers more than ten years ago, which resulted in zero
casualties in terms of firecracker injuries during the New Year.
Last year, Mayor Ma.
Isabelle Climaco-Salazar tried to regulate firecrackers with Executive Order
BC-23-2013 temporarily suspending the display, sale and distribution of
firecrackers and pyrotechnics but to no avail.
Also last year, estimated
P3 million worth of properties damages was reported when a store in Brgy. Guiwan,
which turned out to be operating with expired business permit, and selling
firecrackers and pyrotechnic caught fire.
Guingona’s ordinance includes
the creation of a Technical Working Committee to provide for its implementing
rules and regulations of the ordinance, make an assessment and recommendation
on the enforcement and possible amendment after a period of three years.
Guingona cited the
numerous injuries caused by the use of firecrackers as health department which
tallied 102 cases of firecracker injuries in the city during the years 2010 to
2013 here.
The councilor also said
that he came to recognize that his priorities are public safety, public health,
and public interest.