Metro Manila cops call on public to use regulated firecracker zones
MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila’s top cops appealed to the public on Sunday to use only regulated firecrackers on New Year’s Eve in designated firecracker zones.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar earlier said a total of 404 firecracker zones have been designated in five NCRPO districts.
These include 166 in Quezon Quezon City Police District (QCPD), 93 in Northern Police District (NPD), 73 in Manila Police District (MPD), 52 in Southern Police District (SPD), and 20 in Eastern Police District (EPD).
The NCRPO has also designated 55 community fireworks display zones.
The Executive Order No. 28 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 confines the use of firecrackers to community fireworks display.
READ: Duterte orders regulated, controlled use of firecrackers
According to QCPD, the community fireworks zones in every barangay were established to “minimize the risk of firecracker or pyrotechnics-related injuries, casualties, and fire incidents.”
“Hangad natin na salubungin ang Bagong Taong 2019 ng ligtas at mapayapa, kaya hinihikayat namin ang ating mga kababayan na sundin ang mga itinalagang ‘firecracker zones’ sa kani-kanilang barangay,” QCPD director Chief Supt. Esquivel Jr. said.
(We want to greet the new year 2019 in a secure and peaceful manner. We are encouraging the public to use the designated firecracker zones in their villages.)
“Ang mga itinakdang lugar na ito ay doon lang pwedeng magpaputok ng mga legal na paputok at magsagawa ng mga fireworks display na maaring panoorin ng publiko (People will be allowed to explode firecrackers only in these zones. The public may also view fireworks displays here),” he added.
MPD director Senior Supt. Vicente Danao Jr. and SPD director Chief Supt. Eliseo Cruz likewise appealed to the public to only use legal firecrackers inside the firecracker zones, which include Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Judas belt, Paper caps, Pulling of Strings, Skyrocket or kwitis, and Small Trianggulo.
The NCRPO said pyrotechnic devices that can be used outside the firecracker zones include Butterfly, Fountain, Jumbo Regular and Special, Luces, Mabuhay, Roman Candle, Trompillo, Whistle Devices, and all kinds of pyrotechnic devices. /ee
