Photo courtesy of Alcala PNP / Facebook
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — The municipality of Bolinao has imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices ahead of the revelries this Yuletide Season.
Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste, in Executive Order (EO) 70 dated Dec. 20 and posted on the local government’s official social media pages Monday night, said the move aims to ensure the safety of the Bolinaoans.
Celeste instead encouraged alternative noisemakers for the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve revelries.
The EO cited Republic Act 7183, or the Firecracker Law, which regulates the sale, distribution, manufacture, and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
It also mentioned the Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular 2017-105 which enumerated the roles and responsibilities of all officials and offices concerned in regulating the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in their areas.
“While part of the celebration of Filipino holiday traditions is the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, a substantial number of firecracker-related injuries and casualties in the country is recorded every year,” Celeste said.
Firecrackers will be subjected to confiscation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) from sellers and users violating the provisions of EO 70.
“The Barangay Council is hereby authorized to stop any activity which is not in conformity with this policy and shall immediately report and coordinate the same actions with the BFP and the PNP,” Celeste added.