DILG mobilizes PNP, BFP, LGUs to crack down on illegal firecrackers, prevention of indiscriminate firing.
TO prevent fires and other incidents caused by illegal firecrackers and fireworks, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has 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).
Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año also said the PNP should be on the lookout for indiscriminate firing on New Year’s eve that may cause undue injury or death to innocent 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.
He added that with the sudden increase in positivity rate in the National Capital Region, this 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 said 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 stressed.
Penalties for thosewho 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.
Meanwhile 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.
Included in the list of prohibited FC/PDs are 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.
Tags: #BFP, #DILG, #PNP, #LGUs, #firecrackers