Fireworks light up the rainy sky over Sampaloc, Manila as residents welcome the new year in this file photo. (Mike Frialde/INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday ordered all police units to confiscate unauthorized fireworks and make arrests when the nation ushers in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The PNP is authorized to immediately confiscate illegal firecrackers and make arrests when necessary so the industry is advised to just follow the law,” DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.
The DILG said illegal 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.
Malaya added that lawmen must conduct inspections at the “manufacturing complex, warehouse, and processing area of manufacturers and dealers” of firecrackers in their areas of responsibility to ensure that safety guidelines are followed.
In the same statement, Bureau of Fire Protection Senior Inspector Bayani Zambrano reminded that any form of public fireworks display is banned.
Only community fireworks displays led by local government units are allowed, Zambrano added.
The BFP official also said they will continue an information dissemination campaign to ensure that the public is reminded of safety hazards during the celebration of New Year.
“Meron po tayong ‘Oplan Paalala: Iwas Paputok 2020’ campaign kung saan ipinagbabawal ang paggamit ng paputok upang maiwasan ang pagkasunog ng kabahayan at ng ibang pang establisimyento,” said Zambrano.
(We have an “Iwas Paputok” campaign which bans use of fireworks to prevent fires.)
“Patuloy po tayong gumagawa ng information campaign bawat barangay pinapasok natin ‘yan. Umiikot ang mga bumbero natin upang ipaalala sa komunidad na dapat po tayong umiwas sa mga bagay na nagsasanhi ng sunog,” he added.
(We will continue our information campaigns in every barangay. Our firemen will make rounds to remind the public to prevent fires.)
In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 28 which regulates the use of firecrackers.