BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – To ensure the safety of the public this holiday season, the city government has designated three areas for the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics until Dec. 31.
Under Mayor Jerry Treñas’ Executive Order (EO) No. 163 Series of 2023, or the “Guidelines in the Use, Manufacture, Distribution and Sale of Fireworks and Other Pyrotechnic Devices in Iloilo City,” buying and selling of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices shall be allowed at:
* Circumferential Road 1, comer Jocson Street, in Arevalo district
* Circumferential Road 1, corner Iloilo East Coast-Capiz, along Ondoy’s Sugbahan in Jaro district
* Muelle Loney Street, along Riverside front of Muelle Loney statue, in City Proper district
The EO further stated that fireworks and pyrotechnic devices stalls shall be separated from each other by a firewall with fire resistance rating of not less than two hours, as determined by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
There should also be fire extinguishers, and smoking within 15 meters from the display zone is prohibited.
Likewise prohibited is the testing of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices, as well as stoves, explosive flames and electrical heaters.
The BFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), Iloilo City Public Safety and Traffic Management Office, and barangay officials are tasked primarily to inspect the firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices manufacturing zones, display zones, and exhibition zones, and to implement the provisions of the EO, in relation to Republic Act 7183, or an “Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution, and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices.”
Penalties await any person who violates the EO.
Last week, the PNP released the list of prohibited firecrackers.
These are piccolo, watusi, giant whistle bomb, giant bawang, large Judas’ belt, super lolo, lolo thunder, atomic bomb, atomic bomb triangulo, pillbox, boga, kwiton, goodbye earth, goodbye bading, and hello Columbia./PN
