Pasig penalizes 7 homeowners over firecracker use 

Seven households inside an exclusive subdivision in Pasig City were slapped with P5,000 fine and a violation ticket for using firecrackers during the New Year revelry, Mayor Vico Sotto said Saturday, according to a report by Manila Bulletin.

“As promised, tineketan namin ang mga taga-exclusive subdivision na nagpaputok nung New Year (we issued tickets to residents of an exclusive subdivision who used firecrackers during the New Year),” Sotto said in a Facebook post.

He added, “7 households in Valle Verde reported to us were ticketed and fined 5,000 pesos each.”

The mayor said residents of the households that were fined were surprised when they were informed of their violation, but he noted that they cooperated with authorities.

Sotto expressed his gratitude to the Peace and Order Department of the city government and local police. He also thanked the village administrators for their assistance.

Meanwhile, the mayor reported that the Pasig Police confiscated about P1 million worth of illegal firecrackers during the implementation of the firecracker ban during the New Year.

“Sa susunod, kung pinagbabawal pa rin, mas mahihigpit tayo sa mga tindahan/supply na mismo (Next time, if it [firecracker] is still banned, we will be tougher on stores/suppliers themselves),” Sotto said. 

The Pasig City government prohibited residents from using fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices to prevent firecracker-related injuries during the celebration of the New Year.