ZAMBOANGA CITY – The sale and use of powerful firecrackers and all other pyrotechnic devices with explosive content are banned during Thursday night’s New Year’s Day celebration in this city.

City Mayor Celso Lobregat ordered the prohibition through Executive Order (EO) No. CL 305-2009, regulating the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of powerful firecrackers such as the “Atomic Big Triangulo,” “Super Lolo,” “Kwiton (giant kwitis)” and “Watusi” and other strong pyrotechnic devices in the city during New Year’s Day revelry.

“This is to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration of the coming New Year, at the same time to prevent the loss of lives and limbs as a result of these pyrotechnic devices,” Lobregat said Wednesday.

Under the Executive Order, only the duly authorized dealers or entities with Business Permits are allowed to distribute and sell firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, except those prohibited by law, within their respective places of businesses as registered.

As this developed, the city government here has authorized only nine local dealers here to sell firecrackers and pyrotechnics to the residents.

According to Lobregat, the nine dealers are the only legitimate sellers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in this city and duly permitted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame to engage in such kind of business venture that are now in demand in preparation for the New Year revelry.

The mayor here said the controlled sale of the firecrackers is aimed at minimizing the incidents of firecracker accidents as well as to prevent the entry of smuggled firecrackers that may be more dangerous and unsafe for the general public.

For the past several years now, the city government has been regulating the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics aimed at minimizing cases of firecracker-related accidents during the New Year celebration, according to the mayor here.

Violation of the EO will be subjected to a fine of not less than P20,000 or not more than P30,000 and/or imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

Elements of the Zamboanga City Police Office and Task Force Zamboanga have been directed to conduct an inventory as to the kinds and quantities of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in possession of licensed distributors in the city, and to strictly implement the EO.

Lobregat has also issued EO No. CL 306-2009 banning the sale and use of pellet toy guns in the city to protect the children from unnecessary injuries during the yearend celebration.