By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) yesterday confirmed registration for firecracker retailers is now open.

According to BCPO spokesperson, Police Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, it is very important for all retailers of pyrotechnics to acquire a permit. If a seller is caught selling without a permit, their products face confiscation.

She noted, applicants must adhere to requirements of the Firearms and Explosives Security and Guard Supervision (FESAGS), including submitting a written request with an address indicating where the sales will take place; certifications from the vendor’s supplier; and clearances from barangay officials, the police, the court, and the bureau of fire protection.

Sellers are also required to attend a safety training course before acquiring accreditation, which is then utilized to receive a permit.

With regard to an authorized area to sell, Vargas said one has not yet been named but it is likely to be the same location as the prior year, towards the rear of the Pope John Paul II tower in the Bacolod Reclamation area.

Under Executive Order 28, the use of firecrackers is confined to community fireworks display to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties.

According to the order, a community fireworks display is conducted for an occasion, or as part of a celebration, competition, or similar event held in a venue other than a place of residence.

The said display must also be conducted under the supervision of a trained individual, who is licensed by the police./DGB, WDJ