Strictly enforce ban on firecracker use, Abalos urges LGUs

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. Wednesday, Dec. 27, prodded local government units (LGUs) to strictly enforce their respective ordinances pertaining to the ban on firecracker use to celebrate the coming New Year.

In a statement, Abalos said his call is to “ensure safety of their communities, and lessen if not totally eliminate pyrotechnics-related injuries prior to and during New Year’s Eve celebrations.’’

Based on the DILG data, there were at least 1,210 LGUs that have already approved an ordinance banning the use of harmful firecrackers in their respective localities.

“I continue to remind our LGUs, especially the ones with local ordinances already in place, na pangunahan ang pagtitiyak na malayo sa disgrasya ng paputok ngayong holiday season ang ating mga kababayan (take lead in ensuring that the public is out of harm’s way from firecrackers this holiday season),’’ Abalos stressed.

The DILG chief also commended the 35 LGUs that have complied with his recent call to pass ordinances on the same saying that this will ensure a safe and injury-free celebrations for their constituents.

To attain their target of safe and injury-free festivities, Abalos emphasized that the LGUs must see to it that the provisions of the said ordinances are implemented down to the grassroots level.

“Walang saysay ang mga polisiyang ito kung hindi natin ma-implement sa ating mga barangay (These policies are useless if we can’t implement them in our barangays),” he added.

“Of the 1,210 LGUs that already have firecracker ordinances, Region 1 has 94; Region 2 with 84; Cordillera Administrative Region with 56; and Region 3 with 108,’’ the DILG noted.

“Also, National Capital Region has 17; Calabarzon with 126; Mimaropa with 67; Region 5 with 63; Region 6 with 102; Region 7 with 91; Region 8 with 127; Region 9 with 66; Region 10 with 86; Region 11 with 23; Region 12 with 37; and Region 13 with 63,’’ it added.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the list of prohibited firecrackers includes, among others, “Five Star, Pla-Pla, Piccolo, Goodbye Philippines, Goodbye Bading, Giant Bawang, Watusi, Atomic Triangle, Judas’ Belt, Super Yolanda, Super Lolo, and Coke-in-Can.’’