BAGUIO CITY—Police and health authorities challenged all local governments in the region to lead efforts to achieve zero casualty in firecracker-related incidents during the New Year revelry.
Amelita Pangilinan, regional director of the Cordillera office of the Department of Health (DoH-CAR), said that although the number of firecracker-related injuries regionwide has continued to decline, one of the challenges is the absence of appropriate regulations from the local governments banning the sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials during the holiday season.
“We will remain aggressive until we are able to achieve the zero casualty of firecracker-related incidents. It has been our age-old tradition to celebrate the Yuletide season with the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials to drive away the evil spirits in order to bring success for everyone with the coming of the New Year,” Pangilinan stressed.
The DoH-CAR official pointed out that its six provinces, two cities and 75 municipalities must already pass the appropriate local legislation banning the sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials to give teeth to the campaign to achieve zero casualty. With legislation, law enforcers will have sufficient power to apprehend those still using these items in their celebrations.
Aside from the support of the local governments, Pangilinan said the public must cooperate with policies put in place for the safety of the public.
Chief Superintendent Robert Quenery, deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, said the campaign for zero casualty in firecracker-related incidents is a concerted effort of health and law enforcement agencies, the local governments, the private and public sectors and most especially the people.
Quenery said law enforcers had not been remiss in their job to apprehend those openly selling banned firecrackers. The local government, however, must also share in the effort.
Both police and health officials support the clamor for Congress of the Philippines to pass laws to prohibit the manufacture of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials.