Albayalde: Total ban of firecracker use in PH possible

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday that the total ban of use of firecrackers in the country is possible.

Albayalde said this after President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the PNP and concerned government agencies to suspend issuing new permits and licenses for the manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, pending review of existing licenses and permits in compliance with the law.

READ: Duterte thumbs down new permits for firecracker makers

“Personally, the way I see it, most probably papunta tayo doon [in the total ban of firecrackers]. That’s just my personal outlook dito, na probably ito ang magiging [resolution] diyan or probably malilimit iyong ating manufacturers,” he said in a press briefing.

(Personally, the way I see it, most probably we are heading towards the total ban of firecrackers. That’s just my personal outlook here, that probably this could be the resolution or the number of manufacturers will be limited.)

Albayalde said Duterte’s Memorandum Order No. 31 signed on October 29 also mandates the PNP to cancel and revoke licenses and permits of manufacturers found to have violated existing rules and regulations.

According to Albayalde, firecrackers manufactured by those who don’t comply with the law often end up causing injuries and even death.

He said he has already directed the PNP’s Directorate for Operations to initiate consultations with its partner agencies to comply with the President’s directive. /je