Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano has issued an executive order regulating the use of firecrackers in the city during the New Year celebrations.
Rubiano issued the EO following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s directive to all local government units to reduce cases of fireworks-related injuries and instead encourage community fireworks exhibition or display for their constituents as against individual or household use of firecrackers.
She said that upon the directive of the President, the local police, under the supervision of city police chief Col. Byron Tabernilla, and the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), will conduct an inspection of the areas designated for fireworks exhibition or safe zones.
She ordered the police to strictly check if the residents have the permit to possess and display fireworks issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Rubiano said the fireworks should be fired at a distance of 100 feet, be projected upward, and supervised by a person, 21 years old and above with knowledge of handling fireworks.
Tabernilla said that based on the 2018 City Ordinance, about 10 areas in the city have been designated as certified exhibition and community display areas.
He said that based on Section 11 of R.A. No. 9514, any person who manufactures, sells, distributes, or uses firecrackers and other pyrotechnic device in violation of the provision, shall be punished with a fine of P20,000 or more than P30,000, or imprisonment of six months and not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court, in addition to the cancellation of his/her license and business permit.