A total ban on firecrackers in Cebu?

[sharkey360]

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With firecracker ban, Davao City records only one injury

While the Department of Health is busy tallying the number of firecracker explosion victims all over the country, Davao City has recorded only one firecracker-related injury since December 21.

Officials and doctors credit this safety record to the city’s strict implementation of its firecracker ban since 2001.

Just like other hospitals in the country, the Davao Medical Center is in “code white" – the highest alert level for medical institutions – although they expect to receive no firecracker-related cases.

Jean Mustafa, Davao Medical Center’s nurse in charge, said they are on alert for other emergency medical cases.

Bam Garcia of Davao City’s public information office said that for eight consecutive years since the ban was implemented, the city registered negligible cases of firecracker-related injuries.

Duterte's will
He believed the political will of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and the local police made the firecracker ban effective.

The people were initially defiant but they had no choice but to follow the law, he said.

“Pag may nagpapaputok, inaaresto talaga at kinakasuhan (Those who dare violate the ordinance were arrested and cases were filed)," Garcia said. He was referring to Ordinance 060-02, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices and such other similar explosives in Davao City.

Before Christmas Day, police arrested a firecracker vendor who got his supplies from Tagum or Cotabato City. “Hindi naman ganun kadami at kalakas ang binibenta niya, retail lang actually, pero inaresto at sinampahan ng kaso (His wares were not that many and powerful, but he was still arrested and charged)," he added.

Garcia further said that the Maranaos, who used to sell firecrackers in the city, decided to vend other items because they don’t want to offend Duterte.

“The Muslim community here respects the mayor very much, ayaw nilang sila ang mapagbibintangang nagbebenta (they don’t want to be accused as firecracker vendors)," he said.

Garcia said Davao City residents are now used to greeting the New Year with loud music, blowing the horns of their vehicles, and making other noise instead of lighting firecrackers.

Iwas Paputok update
Although no fatalities have been reported, as of the morning of December 31, some 235 people sustained injuries nationwide due to New Year revelry. Of the number, 230 were caused by firecracker blasts. Eighty-four percent of the victims suffered burns, three percent of the victims suffered amputations while 13 percent sustained eye injuries.

The DOH also received a report on watusi (dancing firecracker) ingestion, which causes poisoning, while two others were struck by stray bullets.

The figure is 34 percent or 123 cases lower than last year's casulaties and 51 percent or 241 cases lower than the average of daily cumulative cases from 2004 to 2008, according to the health department’s Iwas Paputok 2009 surveillance update.

With firecracker ban, Davao City records only one injury - Regions - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

[emailroy2002]

e Ban ni oi, wa mani ma himo sa katilingban kungdi magpa punkol ra og ka hilo ra...

mas daghan pa ning na angul og kinabuhi kaysa sa visconde og sa manila hostage taking og sa 9/11 e combine...

e tally lang to tanan gikan pagsukog sus... subra guro 100k na naputlan tudlo og na angol og nangahilo og nangasog ang mga panimalay... naa pay ma stray bullet tungod kay way ka palit og pabuto pero naay bala ika pabuto...

[emailroy2002]

and what happen to "o silent night"?

[adventure.sales]

sakto ra pud na e ban ning firecrakers kay daghan man gud og abosado . sa bata pako daghan man og mag pa boto pero ang gamit kato pang gagmay kaayo na libintador unlike karon na dagko na kaayo ang gingpang gamit ................. besides grabe naka mahal ron compared to before ..... i think mas better na dili nalang nila sunogon ang ila money

[peewee_toot]

naa may mga firecrackers nga gi monitor sa government. ang wala ni og tests, aw, mao na ang dapat i-ban...

[sharkey360]

The mayor stands firm against a local firecracker and pyrotechnics businessman.

Rama refuses to release confiscated firecrackers

Mayor Michael Rama rejected the request of firecracker and pyrotechnics dealer Brian Lim to release his almost P3 million-worth of products that were confiscated by the police and City Hall personnel.

Rama refused to give details of what transpired during his meeting with Lim’s representatives yesterday but said he referred the matter before the city legal office.

Joint operatives from the city police and the City Hall confiscated Lim’s products that were sold inside a mall for violation of the city government’s policy that bans the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics outside of the South Road Properties.

Lim’s stall was raided last week pursuant to the provisions of City Council Resolution 1394, which prohibits the sale, distribution and testing of firecrackers and pyrotechnics outside the designated firecracker zones.

Lim asked South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña’s intervention to recover his products. A resolution is already pending before the City Council seeking to amend the previous resolution by exempting those that are sold inside the malls.

“Ang sayop nahimo na unya abi kay amigo si Brian Lim sa mayor ipa-release ra nila ang mga nadakpan?” said Cleofe Maramara, who used to sell explosive products at Colon Street.

An existing ordinance provides that the display, sale and testing of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices shall be done only at the SRP between December and January and the violators will be slapped with a fine of P5,000 and a permit fee of more than P2,000.

Rama refuses to release confiscated firecrackers | The Freeman >> The Freeman Sections >> Cebu News

[peewee_toot]

so wala nay fireworks ing sinulog?

[sharkey360]

More raids and violations by firecracker dealers might lead to a ban in the future.

City’s laws on pyro still stand

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) can still conduct raids on firecrackers and pyrotechnics in the City that are sold outside the designated firecracker and pyrotechnic zone, which is the South Road Properties (SRP).

City Attorney Joseph Bernaldez clarified that as long as the ordinance regulating firecrackers/pyrotechnics and a resolution that designates a firecracker/pyrotechnic zone are existing, they can be enforced anytime by authorities.

This, as the owner of Pyroworks Pyrotechnic Perfection, Brian Lim, visited Mayor Michael Rama yesterday and brought up his concerns.

Lim is the owner of the P3 million worth of pyrotechnics seized by the joint operatives of the CCPO and CTO in a mall last week.

Help sought

The trader earlier sought the City officials’ help, including the mayor, to recover his confiscated pyrotechnics, which are still in police custody.

Rama refused to reveal the detail of Lim’s concerns, but he added that it’s all about pyrotechnic and firecracker affairs.

The mayor clarified that Lim’s interest involves legal issues, which is why he asked the City Attorney’s Office for its opinion.

“I still have to make a final decision that’s why I’m asking the City Attorney’s Office to give a legal opinion because as a mayor, I have the responsibility to balance public interest,” Rama said.

Bernaldez, for his part, said he already instructed his assistant, lawyer Gerone Castillo, to evaluate the resolution, ordinances and the national laws regarding firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

City Council Resolution ’08-1394 specifies SRP as the only area where firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices can be sold.

CCPO and CTO personnel invoked the resolution, which reinforced City Ordinances 82 and 1962 that regulate the sale and display of firecrackers, in confiscating Lim’s goods.

Pending resolution

There is a pending resolution, though, in the City Council that would amend the original resolution to allow the selling and display of pyrotechnics in malls, department stores and other places in the City.

Bernaldez said the evaluation will include whether a resolution can amend an ordinance or a resolution can amend another resolution, and if it can be given a retroactive effect.

It was Councilor Augustus Pe Jr., who introduced the amendatory resolution in the City Council upon the instruction of Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) after Lim sought the congressman’s help.

Bernaldez said they may come up with the legal opinion in a couple of days. Meantime, he advises traders to follow the law.

“For those selling firecrackers and pyrotechnics, let’s just follow the ordinance and the resolution that we only sell in SRP while we’re studying the law,” Bernaldez said.

City?s laws on pyro still stand | Sun.Star Network Online

[ace_maranga]

mao d.i to atong isang adlaw sa SM nga gipang kuha to ang mga fireworks sa pyroworks....

buy 1 take 1 unta to unya ganahan ko mo palit atong tag 11k nga fireworks.... just my way of thanking the lord for the blessings i was given. XD

ambot lng sad kung namaligya naba sila balik didto kay wala pako ka agi didto balik...

[r3roble]

torotot nalang ug kaldero ato gamiton ani..

or baril nga buslot, guyoron sa tricycle...