AT LEAST 62 firecracker vendors in Bacolod City have already secured special permit to display their products at the designated firecracker zone behind the Pope John Paul II Tower at the city's Reclamation Area.

Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda, head of the market coordinating and monitoring task group, said Wednesday, December 8, that only these vendors will be allowed to display their products at the firecracker zone.

Pineda said their documents were already forwarded to the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas for approval.

"As soon as they have the copy of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) approval, they can start displaying their products at the firecracker zone until December 31," he said.

Pineda added the firecracker vendors were already allowed to construct their stalls behind at the area subject to inspection by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to ensure safety compliance.

Vendors underwent a fireworks safety seminar in the city, required to install "no smoking and no testing" signage, and to comply with the health protocols.

Pineda said vendors selling outside the identified firecracker zone will be penalized, and their products will be confiscated.

He said the Philippine National Police also provided the list of the fireworks and pyrotechnics devices considered legal and allowed to be sold by retailers.

These included Baby Rocket, Judas' Belt, El Diablo, Paper caps, Pulling of strings, Sky Rocket (kwitis), small triangulo, Butterfly, Fountain, Jumbo, regular and special luces, Mabuhay, Roman Candle, sparklers, Trompillo, and Whistle device.

Based on Republic Act 7183, an Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices, prohibited fireworks include Super Lolo, Goodbye Earth, Five Star, whistle bomb, atomic triangle, piccolo, watusi, bogo, and pla-pla.