Firecracker regulation eyed in South Cotabato

Before end-November, South Cotabato could have an ordinance regulating the manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers and fireworks, a Mindanao news site reported.

Final deliberations on the ordinance are scheduled this coming week, MindaNews quoted provincial board peace and order committee chairman Agustin Demaala Jr. as saying.

“We’re targeting to pass it before the end of the month so we can start its implementation in the coming Christmas holidays,” he said.

Demaala said regulating instead of banning firecrackers is in consideration for legitimate manufacturers and retailers.

But the report said the proposed ordinance will observe earlier regulations banning toxic firecrackers including watusi and piccolo; and powerful ones including Super Lolo, Atomic Big Triangulo, and Goodbye Philippines.

Penalties

The proposed ordinance sets penalties for manufacturers and retailers including:

The MindaNews report cited data from the Integrated Provincial Health Office showing 104 firecracker-related injuries in the area in last year’s holiday season.

At least 50 of the victims were children aged two to 10, 75 percent of whom were injured by piccolo. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News