CEBU, Philippines - More than P100,000 worth of various types of firecrackers and pyrotechnics were destroyed at the City Hall yesterday days after these were seized by the members of the Task Force Pabuto.
Task Force head Raquel Arce requested Mayor Michael Rama to witness the destruction of the firecrackers and pyrotechnics with her staff pouring water on them so that it could no longer be used.
Arce, also the concurrent market administrator, said she was advised by the mayor to immediately destroy the seized explosive products to prevent people from being tempted and take them.
According to Arce, the firecracker products were seized from a booth owned by Jonathan Gesalem inside a mall at the North Reclamation Area because it violated the provisions of the existing ordinance.
Under the newly-amended ordinance, the sale and display of firecrackers shall be made only at the South Road Properties (SRP) and the concerned persons should have a dealer’s permit issued by the police authorities.
Pyrotechnics or products that will only display colored lights, can still be displayed inside malls if its owners can secure a special permit from the mayor.
Arce said three other establishments along Carbon Market also yielded several explosive products.
She denied the allegations of Brian Lim of Pyro Works, that he was only singled-out by city hall just because his booth inside the mall at the North Reclamation Area has been inspected by the Task Force members.
“I will not hesitate to confiscate firecracker products if found out that these are displayed outside the designated area whoever its owners are,” said Arce.
Lim earlier wrote the mayor saying “It would not be fair for many of us who strive to faithfully comply with all the governmental regulations and are still subjected to the strict scrutiny of the city’s task force.” (FREEMAN)