City Hall bans sale of firecrackers

Establishments such as malls not allowed to display firecrackers, joint memorandum said

Joint memorandum circular issued by the DILG, DOH, DTI reminds all officials and officers to implement the memo and observe their roles and responsibilities in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations An area in SRP is reserved for firecracker display

EFFECTIVE yesterday, the Cebu City Government banned the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in malls and sidewalks, except in a designated vending area at the South Road Properties (SRP).

This came after Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 Director Rene Burdeos, in a letter dated Dec. 8, asked Mayor Tomas Osmeña to comply with a joint memorandum circular dated Dec. 4, 2014.

The joint memorandum circular issued by the DILG, Department of Health (DOH), Depart- ment of Finance and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reminds all officials to implement the memo and observe their roles and responsibilities in accordance with laws, rules and regulations.

“All malls and other establishments shall not be utilized as display center for selling of firecrackers and pyrotechnics unless done through media presentation or other means without necessary displaying the said firecrackers therein,” reads a portion of the memo.

Osmeña, who said in an earlier interview that he has no qualms with the sale of fireworks in malls, ordered for the immediate compliance of the memo.

Permits

Councilor David Tumulak yesterday issued a letter requesting all establishments not to sell fireworks and pyrotechnics, or their permits will be revoked by the DTI 7.

“We’d like to inform the public so that they’ll not be surprised if their displays along the sidewalk will be confiscated. This will also include pyrotechnics and the like sold in the barangays and in malls. If you’re caught, we will not only confiscate your products, we’ll also have your permits revoked,” he told report- ers in an interview.

Tumulak, chair of the committee on public order and safety, said he will form a task force to conduct inspections around the city in the next days.

He also urged the public to report to the command center vendors or establishments caught violating the order.

Designated

“The only allowed place is the designated zone at the SRP. The sale in sidewalks, most especially, is prohibited because this is very risky. This should not be done publicly. We’re mandating sellers to observe the memo for the coming holidays to prevent untoward and unforeseen accidents,” he said.

The sale of pyrotechnics and firecrackers in all areas is supposed to be banned this year by President Rodrigo Duterte.

However, several businessmen appealed to Duterte not to implement it yet since they have already bought their products.

Duterte then announced last month the deferment of the implementation of his executive order calling for a nationwide ban on the use and sale of pyrotechnics and firecrackers.