Fireworks now available at designated zone

FIRECRACKERS, fireworks and hand-held lights are now available at the Bacolod City’s designated firecracker zone in the Reclamation Area.

Sixty eight sellers obtained their permits from the City Government on December 23 and opened their stalls on December 24.

They will be allowed to sell until December 31, said Ryan Villaluz, a member of the Bacolod Firecrackers and Fireworks Association.

He said there were nine others who have yet to get their permits.

He added lesser people are buying from them considering that the use of firecrackers have limitations.

Each barangay has identified a designated area for firecrackers.

Villaluz said that fireworks and hand-held lights can be enjoyed within the premise of the user's house.

He urged the people to buy from them as their firecrackers and fireworks have passed the product safety standard of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Their fireworks and firecrackers were sourced from Bulacan.

Buyers who are below 18 years old are not allowed to buy unless they are accompanied by their parents.

He added that they can buy as low as P30 to P60, depending on their choice.

It has become a tradition of Filipinos and even Bacolodnons to have these firecrackers and fireworks every New Year, he said.

He urged buyers to be responsible users of those fireworks and firecrackers.

"We also teach the buyers on how to responsibly use the firecrackers and fireworks that they buy from us," he said.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City executive assistant Ernie Pineda reiterated his reminder to all the barangay officials to submit their identified fireworks display areas before December 29.

Pineda, head of the market coordinating and monitoring task force, said Wednesday, December 26, of 61 barangays, only 27 barangays submitted the lists.

These are Barangays 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 38, 39, 41, Banago, Punta Taytay, Mansilingan, Cabug, Granada, Taculing and Villamonte.

Pineda said the lists were already submitted to the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for an inspection.

“The identified fireworks display areas need an approval of BCPO and BFP so the barangay officials should submit their lists so that their constituents will also enjoy that they have an identified fireworks display areas,” he said.

Pineda noted that the barangays were already reminded during their meeting at the Old City Hall for the implementation of the Executive Order (EO) No.28 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte. It provided the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

“If they fail to submit the lists until December 29, it means those barangays do not want a fireworks display areas within their barangays,” Pineda said.

He said the residents can only use pyrotechnic devices at home like butterfly, fountain, luces, roman candle, sparklers and whistle devices while the baby rocket, bawang, el diablo, judas belt, paper caps, pulling of string, sky rocket, small triangulo should be in the identified community fireworks display areas.

He added that violators of EO No.28 will be fined P20, 000 to P30, 000 or imprisonment of one to six years. (with reports from Merlinda A. Pedrosa)