QUEZON CITY -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed all local government units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to impose a crackdown on the manufacture, sale, and use of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices (FC/PDs) to prevent firecracker-related injuries and fires this new year.

At the same time, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said the PNP should be on the lookout for indiscriminate firing on New Year’s eve that may cause undue injury or death to unknowing victims.

“Maliban sa kaligtasan mula sa COVID-19, nais nating maging ligtas ang bawat isa sa iligal na paputok at indiscriminate firing. Habang papalapit ang New Year, nagsusulputan pa rin ang mga ipinagbabawal na paputok. Kaya inaatasan ko ang PNP na doblehin ang pagmomonitor at pag-iinspeksyon para siguruhing hindi kakalat sa merkado at walang gagamit o madidisgrasya sa iligal na paputok,” he said.

The DILG Secretary said that with the sudden increase in positivity rate in the National Capital Region, now is not the right time to be complacent and that the LGUs, the PNP, and BFP should see to it that people are adhering to alert level protocols and obeying rules on the use of firecrackers during the New Year’s Eve celebration.

Año says it is the responsibility of the PNP and the LGUs to enforce national and local policies regulating the manufacture and use of firecrackers through the conduct of inspections, and confiscation and destruction of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

“Ang mga ayaw sumunod, huhulihin yan ng PNP. Mas mabuti pang sa kulungan sila mag Bagong Taon kaysa makadisgrasya o madisgrasya pa sila dahil sa iligal na paputok,” he says to the PNP.

The penalties for those persons who will be caught manufacturing, selling, distributing, or using illegal firecracker and pyrotechnic devices include a fine of P20,000-P30,000, imprisonment of six months to one year, cancellation of license and business permit, and confiscation of inventory stocks.

Under Memorandum Order No. 31 issued by President Duterte in 2019, the PNP, in coordination with LGUs, the BFP, and other concerned agencies, is tasked to conduct inspections to ensure that manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and users of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices are complying with safety guidelines.

The PNP recently released a list of prohibited FC/PDs that the public cannot use anywhere within or outside firecracker zones or designated community fireworks display areas identified by LGUs in preparation for the New Year celebration.

Prohibited FC/PDs include the Watusi, Piccolo, Poppop, Five Star, Pla-pla, Lolo Thunder, Giant Bawang, Giant Whistle Bomb, Atomic Bomb, Super Lolo, Atomic Triangle, Goodbye Bading, Large-size Judas Belt, Goodbye Philippines, Goodbye Delima, Bin Laden, Hello Columbia, Mother Rockets, Goodbye Napoles, Coke-in-Can, Super Yolanda, Pillbox, Mother Rockets, Boga, Kwiton, and Kabasi.

Other types of prohibited FC/PDs are those that are overweight and oversized, all imported finished products, and those unlabeled locally-made products.

Meanwhile, FC/PDs sold under strict regulations and are only permitted for use within LGU-designated community fireworks display areas include the Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Judas' Belt, Paper Caps, Pulling of Strings, Sky Rocket (Kwitis), Small Triangulo, and other types of firecrackers that are not oversized, not overweight, and not imported.

“We encourage people to use regulated firecrackers in designated areas only. The police is authorized to confiscate and destroy prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices as well as firecrackers used outside of community fireworks displays,” said Año said.

According to Executive Order (EO) No. 28, series of 2017 providing for the regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices, the use of regulated firecrackers shall henceforth be confined to community fireworks displays.

EO 28 says that a display of fireworks qualifies as a community fireworks display if it complies with all of the following conditions: (a) it is conducted on the occasion or as part of a celebration, competition, or similar event held in a venue other than a place of residence; (b) it is conducted under the supervision of a trained person duly licensed by the PNP; and (c) it is allowed by the municipality or city concerned through a permit specifying the date and time of the fireworks display and the specific area in which the display will be conducted in conformity with national standards, rules, and regulations.

Stern warning on indiscriminate firing

The DILG Chief also sternly warned against the use of firearms to welcome the new year. "The DILG will not tolerate the use of firearms in welcoming the new year. We will apply the full force of the law against those that will fire their firearms during the new year. Let’s welcome the new year with clean hands and clean hearts,” he said.

If an indiscriminate shooting incident occurs, Año assures the public that it will be dealt with appropriately. “Napakasakit po mabalitaang may mga nasasaktan o namamatay dahil sa indiscriminate shooting. Kung iyong mga paputok nga mahigpit nating ipinagbabawal na gamitin, paano pa kaya iyong pagpapaputok ng baril,” he added.

Be disciplined, follow rules

Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya urged the public to maintain individual self-discipline in adhering to minimum public health standards (MPHS) as the country slowly loosens up COVID-19 Alert Levels to facilitate economic recovery amid increased rate of vaccinated population. He enjoins the public “to be disciplined and to follow the rules on firecrackers to avoid accidents or injuries during the New Year revelry.”

“Huwag na po tayong maging matigas ang ulo. Kahit gaano kasipag ang PNP at ang mga autoridad na magtrabaho, kung hindi naman tayo disiplinado at marunong sumunod sa batas, madidisgrasya pa rin tayo,” he says.

The DILG Spokesperson says that the celebration of the New Year is a perfect time for Filipinos to show discipline in obeying rules and cleaning up the trash as we leave the places that our families visit during the holidays.

“Ang Bagong Taon ay hamon sa ating lahat para maging disiplinado dahil ang simpleng gawain tulad ng pagsunod sa batas at paglilinis, kapag pinagsama-sama ay ang ating ambag sa tunay na pagbabago,” he says.

The DILG launched in 2019 the Disiplina Muna national advocacy campaign which aims to rebuild the culture of discipline among Filipinos.

As part of its public safety advocacy, the BFP launched the Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan (OLP) as their flagship program for preventing household fires. Through a system used by local governments and fire stations, the OLP assists communities in identifying fire hazards, providing first-aid fire suppression through community fire auxiliary groups, and speeding up reporting of ongoing fires.

The OLP on the Road, in which roving patrols go around the community to remind the public to follow fire safety measures in their homes, the use of social media to disseminate fire safety reminders, and the setting up of live streaming programs in local dialects called OLP Online Live Broadcast, are just a few of the Bureau’s recent preventive efforts. (DILG)