Bills seeking stricter firecracker regulation pending since last year
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
BILLS introducing stricter regulation covering the sale and manufacture of firecrackers are currently pending at the committee level at the Senate and have been so since last year.
One bill, proposed by Senator Manuel Villar Jr., provides stiffer penalties for making and selling banned firecrackers. The bill amends
Republic Act 7183, which lists types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices–and specifies the amount of gunpowder used in them–that can be legally sold.
Plan your Sinulog week ahead and find out what’s in store for Sinulog 2012.
Under that law, making and selling firecrackers banned by the Philippine National Police means a fine of P20,000 to P30,000, or imprisonment for from six months to a year.
Reports of injuries, including a man who lost his foot to a banned firecracker called “Goodbye, Philippines,” have been coming in during the run-up to New Year’s Eve, however.
In the explanatory note of his bill, Villar said the penalties in the law are too soft. “The said penalties seem to be so insignificant for the countless invaluable human lives and properties that are lost and destroyed,” he said.
He has proposed a fine of from P500,000 to P1 million and imprisonment of from six years to 12 years.
Companies making the banned firecrackers, and vendors who sell them, will also have their stock confiscated and their business licenses revoked.
According to the Senate Legislative Information System, it has been pending with the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs since August 2010.
The Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce–in a separate Senate resolution–held a hearing on the firecracker trade in November, where committee chairman Villar urged the Department of Trade and Industry to step up monitoring of fireworks being sold for the holidays.
“The sad fact is that most products are being manufactured manually in crude and unsupervised manner which makes it difficult for government agencies to ensure their quality and safety,” he said then. He also said firecrackers should include safety instructions on product labels, “including how far away a person should be when lighting a firecracker.”
In July last year, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago also proposed the banning firecrackers from residential areas.
Instead, the bill proposes requiring local governments to designate areas for firecracker use “for purposes of national and local holiday celebrations.”
Under Santiago’s bill, the firecracker-use areas will measure 200 square meters at most, and should be in non-residential zones. Each barangay can only have one designated area for firecracker use.
Using firecrackers in a residential area will carry a fine of P10,000 to P50,000 or imprisonment for from six months to a year, or both.
The bill was referred in September last year to the Senate committees on public order and dangerous drugs, and on local government. Neither Villar’s nor Santiago’s bill have counterpart proposals at the House of Representatives.
Under the present law, the following firecrackers are allowed: baby rocket, bawang, small triangulo, “pulling of strings”, cap guns, “labintador”, Judah’s (Or Judas’s) Belt, and sky rocket and “other types equivalent in explosive content.”
The PNP has specifically banned the “Big Triangle, Super Lolo and equivalents, Mother Rocket, Five Star, Og, Pla-Pla, (and) Pillbox.”
Also banned are “firecrackers without labels and other firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that could endanger life and limb including ingenious underground fabrications such as Goodbye Earth, Atomic, and other dangerous firecrackers manufactured by illegal fireworks makers.”
Palace asks public to refrain from lighting up firecrackers
In Malacañang, the President urged the public to refrain from lighting up firecrackers and look for alternative ways on how to spend the New Year in a fun and safe way.
Instead of trying to ignite firecrackers with names such as Goodbye Philippines or Goodbye Universe, President Benigno Aquino III said that the New Year could be better welcomed by saying “Goodbye Kapahamakan” and “Hello, Pagbabago.”
“Humaharap po ako sa inyo ngayon upang makiusap: Sama-sama nating salubungin ang bagong taon, gamit ang ingay—hindi mula sa paputok—ngunit sa kolektibo nating sigaw sa isang masigla at mas ligtas na pagdiriwang,” the President said in his New Year’s message recorded at the Music Room in Malacañang Palace.
The President said he wanted all Filipinos to be safe this New Year citing high number of victims of firecrackers during last year’s celebration.
“Napakarami po kasing nalalagay sa panganib dahil sa paputok. Umabot po sa isanlibo at dalawampu’t dalawa ang nadisgrasya noong nakaraang taon. Karamihan po rito ay dahil sa paggamit ng paputok; at ilan din ang napinsala ng ligaw na bala at pagkalason,” he said.
He added that aside from putting people’s lives at risk, firecrackers also pollute the environment.
He said he has ordered the Philippine National Police to intensify crackdown of sellers and users of banned firecrackers such as Goodbye Philippines, Goodbye Earth, Pla-Pla, Five-Star, among others.
“Huwag na po ninyong tangkilikin ang mga paputok na ito; ipag-alaman din sa kinauukulan ang mga makikitang nagtitinda o may tangan ng mga ito,” he stressed.
He also expressed his full support to the campaign of the Department of Health dubbed APIR (Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction).
“Nakikiisa din ako sa Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction o APIR campaign ng Department of Health. Ang layunin po: bawasan ang mga nasasaktan at nasusunugan sa pagdiriwang ng Bagong Taon; ipakilala ang isang panibagong anyo ng selebrasyon,” he said.
As a safer way to spend New Year, the President urged the public to just watch fireworks displays or use safe sound-producing objects such as trumpets, kitchen wares, and other musical instruments.
“Maaari po tayong magtipon sa kani-kaniya nating mga pasyalan at plaza upang panoorin ang mga fireworks display na isinasagawa ng ating munisipyo at ng pribadong sektor. Maaari ring mag-ingay sa ibang paraan—sa kalampag, sa torotot, o sa tugtugin. Ligtas na paraan po ang mga ito,” Aquino said. (Jonathan de Santos/Jill Beltran/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/12/27/bills-seeking-stricter-firecracker-regulation-pending-last-year-197652
Some of the good restaurants in Pampanga offer a unique dining experience that is not commonly found in even the best restaurants in Manila. Some of the fine restaurants in Pampanga are found inside Clark. Business executives discover that the good restaurants in Clark Pampanga offer some of the best places for business meetings also. The Magnum Room wine bar of Yats Restaurant is one of the best places to drink wine and also to relax and unwind with friends. Visitors to Clark Philippines rarely pass up in the opportunity to dine at one of the best restaurants in Pampanga.
Food and wine lovers of Manila gather in Pampanga to enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the best restaurant in Clark Pampanga featuring classic French cuisine, many order fine vintage wines from Yats Restaurant and Wine Lounge to pair with these delectable dishes, all in all, one of the best dinners they enjoy for a long time.
Best Restaurant in Clark Pampanga cooks up a sumptuous dinner featuring the regional cuisine of Italy that food and wine lovers can enjoy with their favorite vintage wines from Piedmont, Tuscany, Amarone, Sicily and other major wine regions of Italy, all available from the majestic wine cellars of Yats Restaurant many regard as the best place to enjoy wine in the Philippines
Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration. It is one of North Luzon Philippines’ top hotels that is trouble free, risk free, and a nice place to have rest in Subic. A well-recognized and interesting hotel.
Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila. Yats Restaurant is one of the good restaurants in Pampanga, a restaurant with good food, a place that is nice for celebration, ideal for business dinner meeting, a good place to enjoy family reunion, and an attractive restaurant that serves good wines for dinner.
Best Restaurant in Clark Pampanga rolls out special set menus designed to showcase the culinary excellence of Italy; great Italian food that can be paired with fine Italian Vintage wine available at the wine cellars of Yats Restaurant which many regard to be the best restaurant near Manila.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Philippines? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
For any assistance in planning and organizing a wedding ceremony, indoor or outdoor garden reception or to find other wedding service providers, Click here to contact us click here
For assistance in hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines, log on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
To buy wine in Manila, Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark or Subic please log on to http://www. ClarkWineCenter.com
To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com
For more information about Clark, Pampanga, Philippines log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
