MERCHANTS with special permits issued by the City Government are the only ones allowed to sell firecrackers, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Jane Docallos said.

Docallos said they expect 22 sellers to apply for the special permits.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mardy Hortillosa said only three dealers in the region have applied for permit as of December 11.

But even if the sellers have secured the special permit, it does not mean they are exempted from being blacklisted.

"Even if you have a permit, you can sell, but if you're selling an illegal item, that's still illegal... subject to confiscation and blacklisting," Docallos said.

The DILG city director said they have already banned a huge wholesaler of fireworks and firecrackers in Cagayan de Oro City for three years due to violations.

At present, they have not yet issued a ban for any retailer of fireworks and firecrackers in the city. But Docallos said if the Task Force Firecrackers catches them selling illegal items, their items will be confiscated and their business will be closed.

"One strike policy. Buot pasabot kung naay violation ang retailer, next year dili na sya pwede na i-allow tagaan sa special permit," Doncallos said.

"The task force will decide kung pila ka years sya i-ban pagpamaligya," she added.

Fireworks and firecrackers sellers with special permits are allowed to sell their products in one designated area, which is the Rotunda or Rodelsa circle, starting December 22.

"Anything that is sold outside of the rodelsa except those in the mall are illegal," Doncallos said.

Among the illegal firecrackers are Piccolo, Watusi, Giant Whistle Bomb, Giant Bawang, Large Judas Belt, Super Lolo, Super Thunder, Atomic Bomb, Atomic Bomb Triangulo, Abuga, Goodbye Earth, Goodbye Bading, Hello Columbia and others that contain more than 0.2 grams of powder.

The products sold by the sellers should also bear the authentic seal of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Last year, Docallos said they have confiscated illegal items worth around P600,000 which are imported from China and had a reproduced sticker of the DTI's seal.