Mandaue crafts ‘explosive’ law

(Buyer of chemicals required to secure ‘permit to purchase’ from city police)

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Councilor Jimmy Lumapas has drafted an ordinance seeking to regulate the sale of chemicals used as ingredients in making explosives.

Lumapas came up with the ordinance after noting reports that dynamite fishing has become rampant in the seawaters of Mandaue. The proliferation of such illegal fishing activity, he deemed, has something to do with the ease in the procurement of such chemicals.

The draft ordinance which the city councilor introduced during yesterday's council session was approved for first reading.

Specifically, it is entitled "Regulating the use, possession and sale of potassium chlorate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate and sodium chlorate and any other chemicals used as explosive ingredients." It is also called the "Explosive Ordinance," said Lumapas.

Once the ordinance becomes a law, a buyer cannot just procure said chemicals without first asking for a permit to purchase it from the Mandaue City Police Office.

For authorized dealers of such chemicals, they should also write in their record book the name of the buyer, their address, name of chemical purchased, quantity and purpose of buying. They should then submit a monthly report to the Mandaue Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council.

Any discrepancy in the report or failure to submit the same will become a ground for the authorized dealer's business to be closed. The dealer's business permit may no longer be renewed, as well.

The buyer and the authorized dealer may also be meted with a fine of P3,000 up to P5,000 or six months up to one year imprisonment upon the discretion of the court.  (FREEMAN)