Zambo mayor reminds residents of firecracker ban

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has reminded residents about the existing ordinance banning firecrackers here during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Salazar said on Thursday Ordinance 431 (series 2014), which bans the use, sale, possession, distribution, storage and manufacture of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices within the territorial jurisdiction of Zamboanga City has not been amended or repealed, so it remains in full force.

Salazar said Section 2 of the ordinance prohibits firecrackers and pyrotechnics “at any time regardless of the occasion except if such prohibited items are in the form of a cargo or cargoes that will only be used by the City as transshipment point to another ship or vessel or vehicle or other means of transportation to its point of destination outside Zamboanga City.”

The mayor said any person or business establishment found to be "using, selling, possessing, distributing, storing and manufacturing firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in violation of the ordinance shall be penalized by a fine of not less than PHP1,000 nor more than PHP5,000 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."

She said the ordinance further stated that the license or permit issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and business permit issued by the city government will be canceled and the inventory or stock will be confiscated.

Under the ordinance, violators will be fined PHP1,000 for first offense, PHP3,000 for second offense, and PHP5,000 for third offense.

“Any and all prohibited items shall be confiscated and any business establishment found violating the ordinance for the third time shall be meted a closure order to forestall repetition,” Salazar said. (PNA)