The Department of the Interior and Local Government is urging local government units and has directed the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection to target zero-firecracker injuries by sustaining the implementation of national and local policies regulating the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Sec. Eduardo M. Año said that it is the mandate of the LGUs to protect their constituents, promote their general welfare, and ensure that their fireworks-related local ordinances, are well implemented and followed by their constituents.
“Ang paglilingkod-bayan ay walang bakasyon, kaya naman kailangang tiyakin ng mga pamahalaang lokal na bagama’t nagsasaya ang lahat ay mahigpit pa ring maipatutupad ang batas kagaya ng pagbabawal sa pagpapaputok,” he said while acknowledging that LGUs have been successful in their anti-firecracker campaign as reflected in the declining number of firecracker-related incidents since 2016.
DILG Usec. Jonathan Malaya said that based on data provided by the PNP, only 307 firecracker-related incidents nationwide were recorded in January, which is 67 percent lower than the 929 recorded incidents in 2016.
In 2018, there were 449 incidents while in 2017, there were 652.
“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,” said Malaya.
The DILG has issued Memorandum Circular 2017-105, implementing EO 28 which enjoins the LGUs, the PNP, and the BFP to take necessary actions on the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices nationwide.
Malaya said that in accordance with EO 28, the PNP, and the BFP have been inspecting fireworks companies and retailers of firecrackers to ensure that illegal firecrackers such as picolo, watusi, and Judas belt, among others, are completely taken off the market.
Under its provisions, the PNP is also tasked to beef up 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 units are also expected to conduct inspections of the manufacturing complex, warehouse, and processing area of manufacturers and dealers in their respective areas of responsibility to ensure the observance of safety guidelines.
“The PNP is authorized to immediately confiscate illegal firecrackers and make arrests when necessary so the industry is advised to just follow the law,” said Malaya.
Among the prohibited fireworks are: 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.
Año said that the decrease of firework-related injuries during the last three years attests that Filipinos can still celebrate the holidays without compromising tradition.
He said that recent reports have shown that a growing number of Filipino families are now using pailaw and other noise-making alternatives such as blowing horns to welcome the 2019 New Year, skipping using firecrackers altogether. – DILG release
