No need to amend firecracker ordinance, says Davao City councilor
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/8 January) – Amid the brouhaha on social media that followed the display of fireworks here on New Year’s Day despite the long-time ban, a city councilor said there is no need to amend the city’s 23-year-old firecracker ordinance.
City Ordinance 060-02, also known as the Firecracker and Other Pyrotechnic Devices Ordinance, was passed in 2002 and has since then strictly implemented by authorities.
But the lone fireworks display a little past midnight of New Year’s Day, captured in a reel posted on Facebook by Neil Patrick Gallardo, showed deprived Davaoeños rejoicing and even dancing in the streets. “Nice kaayooo!” screamed one spectator.
“Is there a need to amend [the ordinance]? … At the moment, I don’t see any reason to amend this,” said Councilor Jesus Joseph Zozobrado, the City Council’s floor leader and chair of the committee on rules, privileges, laws and ordinances, during a press conference at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Tuesday morning.
Section 2 of the ordinance states that there should be no person or business establishment which should “manufacture, sell or offer for sale, distribute, possess or use any firecracker or pyrotechnic devices or such other similar devices within the territory of Davao City.”
“One of the significant benefits brought about by this ban on firecrackers for the Davaoeños is the eliminating the big hassle caused by injuries, accidents, and the air and noise pollution associated with it,” Zozobrado said in the vernacular.
Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) head Angel Sumagaysay, told the media Monday morning that he already recommended for the Davao City Police Office to “really file an appropriate case” against the businessman from Placer, Surigao del Norte, known only by the alias “Botyok,” who allegedly set the staged the fireworks display.
Earlier reports said that “Botyok” arrived with a backpack and ignited firecrackers at the riprap area near a river dike at NHA Bangkal early on Jan. 1. Police said he is still at large.
“We’ve been practicing the ban for a long time and we have become known for this strict policy. Why would he dare violate it?” Sumagaysay said.
Capt. Hazel Caballero, DCPO spokesperson, said Monday morning that they are preparing to file a case against the violator at the Office of the City Prosecutor.
DCPO aims to prosecute “Botyok” for violating the local ordinance and Republic Act 7183, which regulates “the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.”
Caballero said the DCPO is working with Surigao del Norte police to locate the violator’s residence.
In 2001, former Mayor (and later President) Rodrigo Duterte released an executive order disallowing the sale and use of firecrackers in the city because of the rising number of firecracker-related incidents.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod passed the ordinance banning firecrackers a year later.
The city ordinance stipulates that first-time violators will be fined P1,000 or 20 to 30 days imprisonment or both; second-time offenders will be fined P3,000 or one to three months imprisonment or both; and third-time violators will be fined P5,000 or three to six months imprisonment or both. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
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