Businessman defies Kidapawan fireworks ban

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato — A local ordinance banning the use of firecrackers and fireworks in welcoming the New Year was put to a test on Sunday.

A businessman here who owns a hotel defied the ordinance and put up a fireworks display Sunday night at the roof deck of the hotel, which is located across a street from the Kidapawan City hall.

“It was a daring attempt to undermine the political will of our leaders here,” said Leopoldo Salonga, a resident who witnessed the fireworks display. “We were stunned because there is already an ordinance, it was a blatant defiance.”

Mayor Joseph Evangelista, who signed the local law banning the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics last month, said charges would be filed against those responsible for Sunday’s fireworks.

“Definitely, the city government will file appropriate charges,” Evagelista said.

The unauthorized fireworks display came on the day the city government, through the Kidapawan City police, created “Oplan Kontra Paputok,” a citywide campaign aimed at enforcing the law and ensuring the safety of residents.

On the eve of Christmas Day, three persons were arrested by the local police for setting off firecrackers.

Psalmer Bernalte, the city’s information chief, appealed to the public to come forward and issue affidavits if they witnessed the fireworks display.

Kidapawan was the third city in Mindanao to ban firecrackers and fireworks displays, after Davao City, which has been observing Christmas and New Year’s celebration “without a bang” the past 11 years, and Zamboanga City, which imposed a ban toward the end of 2013.