City Hall of Zamboanga (PNA file photo)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The city government on Wednesday reminded the public anew to observe the firecracker ban here.
The firecracker ban, embodied in Ordinance 431, prohibits the use, sale, possession, distribution, storage, and manufacture of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices by any or business establishments in the territorial jurisdiction of Zamboanga City.
The ordinance was enacted in 2014 as a health and safety measure against firecracker and pyrotechnic device-related injuries documented by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) during the holiday season.
The ordinance was also enacted to “prevent fears, anxieties, and a contributory factor to the general feeling of threat and insecurity” due to the 21-day siege in 2013.
In place of firecrackers, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar encouraged residents to use safe noise-making devices such as trumpets and drums to usher in the new year to avoid injuries and damage to properties.
In a statement, Salazar said regulated fireworks shows are also not allowed in the city and that the firecracker ban is enforced at all times, regardless of the occasion.
Violators of the ordinance shall be penalized with 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 in addition to the cancellation of the license or permit issued by police and the business permit issued by the city, and the confiscation of inventories and stocks.
Any person or business establishment found to be using, selling, possessing, distributing, storing, and manufacturing firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices will be fined PHP1,000 for the first offense, PHP3,000 for the second offense, and PHP5,000 for the third offense.
Last year, the city recorded zero injuries caused by firecrackers or stray bullets during the new year's revelry. (PNA)
