P50T in fireworks destroyed

CEBU, Philippines - About P50,000 worth of various kinds of firecrackers and pyrotechnics that were seized by the members of Task Force Pabuto from different stalls in the Carbon public market were destroyed by Mayor Michael Rama yesterday.

Rama and the members of the task force headed by Phillip Zafra, the mayor’s chief of staff, sprayed water on the confiscated pyrotechnic products so these can no longer be used.

Market Administrator Raquel Arce said the owners of firecrackers and pyrotechnics products did not resist when the members of the Task Force Pabuto seized the explosives for violating an existing ordinance.

The city has an ordinance banning the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics products outside the designated area in the South Road Properties from December 1 to December 31.

Arce said despite the warning, the concerned vendors insisted on selling the explosive products at different stalls in the Carbon public market that prompted task force members to confiscate the items.

The owners of the products were not arrested by the task force members because the ordinance only provides for the confiscation of the firecrackers and pyrotechnics if these are caught being sold outside the designated area.

The ban of the sale of explosive products outside the SRP is aimed at preventing more firecracker-related accidents during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The health officials only reported close to 100 blast victims who landed in different hospitals during the Christmas and New Year.  — (FREEMAN)