by Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — Some 65 vendors have secured retailer’s permits from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU) 6 (Western Visayas) to sell firecrackers in this city.
Executive Assistant II Ernesto Pineda, head of the City Mayor’s Office-Sectoral Concerns, said Thursday that 56 vendors with approved special permits have already started selling in their stalls at the reclamation area.
The other nine are still processing their permits and are expected to obtain them soon, Pineda said.
The space behind the Pope John Paul II Tower at the reclamation area has been designated as the only place for the display and sale of firecrackers in the city until December 31.
Those who will sell firecrackers and pyrotechnics outside the designated area will be considered violators, their goods will be confiscated, and they will be charged, Pineda earlier said.
Allan Pacheco, president of Bacolod Firecracker Vendors Association, has urged his fellow retailers to adhere to the rules and avoid selling illegal firecrackers.
Aside from securing a retailer’s permit, vendors are also required to obtain a permit to transport the firecrackers and pyrotechnics from the dealers or else, their goods will be confiscated.
A list provided by the PNP showed the fireworks and pyrotechnic devices considered legal and allowed to be sold by retailers. These are Baby rocket, Judas’ belt, El Diablo, Paper caps, Pulling of strings, Sky rocket (kwitis), small triangulo, Butterfly, Fountain, Jumbo, regular and special luces, Mabuhay, Roman Candle, Sparklers, Trompillo, and Whistle device.
Based on Republic Act No. 7183, or an Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices, prohibited fireworks include Super Lolo, Goodbye Earth, Five Star, whistle bomb, atomic triangle, piccolo, watusi, bogo, and pla-pla.
In its advisory, the Bacolod City Police Office reminded the public to buy firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices only from authorized dealer or retailer and buy items with proper label of legitimate manufacturer, with name address and warning instruction, and those with Philippine Standard mark from the Department of Trade and Industry.
