THE QUEZON City government has prohibited private households from holding their own fireworks display to lessen injuries during the holiday season.
Fireworks displays would only be allowed in public places “as approved by the city government,” Mayor Maria Josefina Tanya “Joy” Belmonte said in an executive order.
“We also want to protect homes, commercial buildings and other structures against accidental fires and to lessen the harmful effects of hazardous chemicals and pollutants,” she said.
The order also mandates that only government-approved firecrackers and pyrotechnics are allowed for use in public spaces.
The sale of fireworks and firecrackers is limited to shopping malls. Sellers should get clearance from the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) or a special permit from the Business Permits and Licensing Department, the mayor said.
Quezon City, located in the capital region Metro Manila, is the richest city in the Philippines, with total assets of more than P451 billion in 2021. It is also the country’s most populous city with more than two million residents.
Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged local authorities to set up a common area for fireworks displays during the holiday season and asked individuals to stop using firecrackers.
Several localities across the country have been implementing a common firecracker area policy while some have imposed complete bans on individual use. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza