MANILA – With the country still in the middle of a pandemic, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) targets a zero firecracker-related injury for the holidays, especially during the New Year’s Eve.
In a statement over the weekend, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said no firecracker-related injury has been reported so far.
“It is the tradition of Filipinos to usher in the New Year with fireworks as families indulge in their media noche. However, the pandemic and the new normal entails adjustments to ensure everyone is safe at home together,” Malaya said.
“Disiplina muna para ligtas ang pamilya, ligtas ang bayan. Ito po ang ating regalo’t ambag para iwas peligro at mapayapang pagsalubong ng bagong taon,” he added.
Based on the data from the Philippine National Police, Malaya said a total of 307 firecracker-related incidents across the country were recorded in January 2019. This was 67 percent lower compared to the 929 recorded incidents in 2016.
“There has been a steady decline for the past three years and we can sustain that trend if we remain persistent with our efforts to implement laws and regulations on the use of firecrackers such as Republic Act 7183 and Executive Order No. 28,” Malaya said.
The DILG earlier issued Memorandum Circular 2017-105, implementing Executive Order 28, which enjoins the local government units, the PNP, and the Bureau of Fire Protection to take necessary actions on the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices during the holiday season.
Under its provisions, the PNP is tasked to strengthen its force to provide security in identified firecrackers and pyrotechnic zones and firecracker/pyrotechnic displays in respective areas in coordination with appropriate agencies and stakeholders.
Police are also expected to conduct inspections of the manufacturing complex, warehouses as well as processing areas of manufacturers and dealers in their respective areas of responsibility to ensure the observance of safety guidelines.
Moreover, the DILG said prohibited fireworks include piccolo, watusi, giant whistle bomb, giant bawang, large judas belt, super lolo, lolo thunder, atomic bomb, atomic bomb triangulo, pillbox, boga, kwiton, goodbye earth, goodbye bading, hello columbia, and goodbye Philippines./PN
