Makati fireworks ban in 3 'oil leak' barangays stays

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati city government on Thursday said the ban on the use of fireworks in three barangays affected by the oil leak of the First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) pipeline stays.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said that the fireworks ban will remain in effect this year in barangays Bangkal, Magallanes and Pio del Pilar as ordered by City Ordinance No. 2010-A-020.

“Although the cleaning phase of the oil leak has been ongoing for years now, the city government deems it proper to keep the ordinance in effect so that no further harm could befall our constituents,” Binay said.

"We have been in constant communication with our environmental specialists and consultants who will determine when the soil and water in the area have been freed from traces of oil,” he added.

It would be recalled that oil leak from the pipeline was discovered at the basement of the 22-story West Tower Condominium in July 2010 that prompted the city government to order the evacuation of the building.

The FPIC pipeline transported oil and petroleum products from Batangas province to the oil depots in Pandacan, Manila.

Under City Ordinance No. 2010-A-020, violators of the firecrackers ban will be penalized with a fine of P5,000 or six months imprisonment. For juridical entities, such as corporations or partnerships, the president or general manager, or any other person acting in behalf of the president or the general manager shall be held liable. The owner of single proprietorship businesses or the person acting in his or her behalf will be held liable the violation under the ordinance.

The fireworks prohibited by the ordinance includes baby rockets, bawang, small triangulo, pulling of strings, paper caps, el Diablo, watusi, Judas' belt, and sky rocket (kwitis).

Banned pyrotechnic devices meanwhile includes sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo regular and special, mabuhay, roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle, butterfly, and all kinds of pyrotechnic devices (pailaw).

Binay also reminded the public that the city government still implements the 1994 ordinance that prohibits the sale of any firecracker to minors aged 15 years and below.

Ordinance No. 1997-290 prohibits merchants or storeowners in the city from selling any kind of firecracker to minors 15 years old and below. Violation for this would entail a fine of P1,000 and/or imprisonment or 15 days, or both at the discretion of the court.

At present, the city government is still coordinating with the FPIC on the ongoing cleaning and remediation phase of the soil and water underneath the West Tower Condominium.