Bills seeking stricter firecracker regulation pending since last year

Wednesday, December 28, 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

Many tourists and residents of Manila traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Pampanga Angeles City, Clark Philippines are surprised to find a a large wine shop so near Manila right in the heart of Pampanga, just 70 minutes from Manila. Even residents of Subic travel to Clark via ScTex to do some wine shopping in this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center, a project of Hong Kong-based Yats International.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Public wine tastings are held by this well known wine shop of Pampanga from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive. This is one the things to do in Manila and Pampanga.

Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark to buy some fine vintage wine to bring home after their holidays and vacations. Many find a top rated wine shop called Clark Wine Center to be an exciting place to do some shopping in Clark Pampanga. This famous wine shop is highly recommended for visitors going to Clark Pampanga to drink good wine, relax and unwind with friends and families. This frequently visited wine shop is known by tourist and visitors to Pampanga, Angeles city, Subic and Clark Philippines as a cool place to hang out in Clark. Many attend the regular wine tasting held either outdoor on the roof deck or in indoor on the second floor above the wine shop. The place has good atmosphere for a private wine tasting party or a small night out gatherings for business or social event.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com