BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Memorandum 123, directing Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda, head of the market coordinating and monitoring task force, to coordinate with different offices concerned and interested businesses for the sale, wholesale, and retail of firecrackers and pyrotechnics at the identified firecracker zone at the back of Pope John Paul II Tower at the Reclamation Area.
Pineda said the firecracker vendors can display their products at the identified firecracker zone. Those selling outside the firecracker zone will be penalized and their products will be confiscated.
He said of 73 firecracker vendors in Bacolod City who earlier secured special permits to sell at the firecracker zone, only 50 of them are interested to sell at the Pope John Paul II Tower at the Reclamation Area.
"Some of them decided to stop selling firecrackers because of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic," he added.
Pineda noted some of the firecracker vendors already constructed their stalls at the firecracker zone and it will be inspected by the city's team anytime this week.
The firecracker vendors are allowed to sell their products as long as they had attended the fireworks safety seminar, which was conducted by the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bacolod City two years ago.
Pineda was also directed to coordinate with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Permits and Licensing Division, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, and the City Legal Office to ensure proper implementation and regulation for the selling of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in the area.
As part of the requirements, Pineda said the firecracker vendors also need the recommendation of the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection so they can sell their products to the identified firecracker.
"They also need to pay their permit at the City Treasurer's Office and once they will be allowed to retail, they can display their products to the identified firecracker zone only," he said.
Pineda was also tasked to ensure the strict compliance of the health protocols set the by the Inter-Agency Task Force, and the Emergency Operation Center Task Force in view of the health crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.