Mayor Radaza warns sellers of banned firecrackers

CEBU, Philippines — Manufacturers and dealers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City are directed to acquire permits from government agencies and to only sell products that the authorities allow.

"Masayo nila og pasa ang mga requirements, ang paglukat (sa permit) dinhi na sa atoa," Mayor Paz Radaza said.

Barangay Babag is known as the fireworks industry of Cebu, with around 200 small and bigtime manufacturers and dealers.

Manufacturers and dealers are required to get permits from the barangay, city, police office, and city fire department.

Firecrackers and pyrotechnics are allowed to make, sell, distribute and use those based on the list that the government officials gave them.

It includes baby rocket, bawang, el diablo, judas belt, paper caps, pulling of strings, kwitis or sky rocket, small triangle and other types of firecrackers that have the same explosive content as that of the mentioned items.

As to pyrotechnic devices, authorities only allow butterfly, fountains, jumbo regular, luces, mabuhay, roman candle, sparkles, trompillo, whistle devices and all kinds of “pailaw” or pyrotechnic devices to be sold.

Items not on the list will be confiscated in consonance with Republic Act 7183 or an act regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

These include piccolo, super lolo, whistle bomb, goodbye earth and atomic big triangulo.

Sellers are only allowed to sell in the designated areas in the village.

In June last year, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 28, which regulates the use and sale of firecrackers.

Under EO 28, only some fireworks are allowed in designated display areas to prevent accidents during the New Year revelry. — KBQ (FREEMAN)