ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/12 November) – Mayor Celso Lobregat has issued two executive orders banning the sale of pellet toy guns and regulating, controlling and limiting the pyrotechnics allowed to be used, sold and distributed here.
Citing provisions of Republic Acts 7183 and 7160, Lobregat issued E.O. 481-2012 that strictly prohibits the use, sale and distribution of firecrackers, such as but not limited to piccolo, triangulo, super lolo, watusi, el Diablo, Judah’s belt and whistle device among others.
Section 12 of R.A. 7183 authorizes local chief executives to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within their respective territorial jurisdiction in conformity with the national standards, rules and regulations in furtherance of public safety, public order and national security.
RA 7183 regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution and us of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics approved on January 30, 1992 while RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that Local Government Units (LGUs) shall exercise the powers, necessary, appropriate or incidental for its efficient and effective governance and those which are essential to the promotion of general welfare.
EO 482 bans the sale of pellet toy guns and directs the immediate confiscation of these items.
Lobregat said he was prompted to issue the orders in anticipation of the Christmas season when private and public economic enterprises in this city will be flooded with pellet guns and firecrackers.
Indiscriminate use of these devices has resulted to loss of lives, limbs and injuries and fire.
The mayor said a proactive approach is necessary to protect the children from unwanted injuries, especially since it is of public knowledge that the sale and use of pellet toy guns “had been causing so much
physical injuries to young people.”
E.O. 481 states that only sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo regular and special, mabuhay, Roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, butterfly, all kinds of pyrotechnics (pailaw), baby rocket, sky rocket (kwitis) and other types equivalent to the foregoing are allowed to be used, sold and or distributed by duly licensed dealers.
The same E.O. also provides that only those persons/entities duly authorized by Mayor/business permits to distribute and/or sell pyrotechnic devices are permitted to distribute and sell such product in this city and such distribution and sale shall be limited to their registered place of business.
Licensed dealers are also prohibited from keeping in their stores quantities of pyrotechnic devices in excess of combined total of 50 kilograms and the rest of the stocks shall be kept in the warehouse from which replenishment shall be withdrawn from time to time as the need arises.
Importation of finished pyrotechnic devices is likewise prohibited.
“Imported firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices found in the market and in stores of licensed dealers shall be deemed illegally manufactured and shall be subject to immediate confiscation,” Lobregat emphasized in his order.
Lobregat said that violators of the E.O. shall be dealt with in accordance with section 11 of RA 7183 which specifically states that a fine of not less than P20,000 nor more than P30,000 will be imposed or imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than one year or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court to include the revocation and or cancellation of the business permits. (MindaNews)
