The Department of Health has discouraged the use of torotot (horn or trumpet) in welcoming 2022 before midnight Friday amid the threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire advised Filipinos to use other alternatives to celebrate the arrival of the new year.
“Let’s avoid using horns, whistles, or other items that we use with our mouths to prevent infection.
Welcoming the new year will be more joyous if we are safe and in good health,” she said.
The department also discouraged the use of torotot last year, and sellers in Divisoria saw brisk sales of a version of the toy that uses an air pump instead.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año also appealed to the public to do away with the use of firecrackers.
“I just want to remind the public that the use of firecrackers is not allowed. So here in Executive Order 28, we show that the public must comply and our local governments, because we will implement law enforcement through Executive Order 28 aimed at regulating, controlling the sale and use of fireworks or firecrackers. And our PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection and LGUs expect us to strictly enforce this regulation,” Año told President Rodrigo Duterte during his pre-recorded Talk to the People on Monday night.
EO 28, signed by Duterte in 2017, provides for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, the use of regulated firecrackers shall henceforth be confined to community fireworks displays.
The DILG chief said it was the responsibility of the PNP and the LGUs to enforce national and local policies regulating the manufacture and use of firecrackers through inspections, and confiscation and destruction of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
“Our LGUs can designate a community fireworks display or area as required with the permission of our PNP and a designated safety officer. It is even better for our countrymen to really quietly celebrate our New Year in order to avoid COVID-19 and avoid fireworks accidents,” he said.
Violations include a fine of P20,000 to P30,000, imprisonment of six months to one year, cancellation of license and business permit and confiscation of inventory stocks.
Under Memorandum Order 31 issued by Duterte in 2019, the PNP, in coordination with LGUs, the BFP and other concerned agencies, is tasked to conduct inspections to ensure that manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and users of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices are complying with safety guidelines.
Recently, the PNP released a list of prohibited firecrackers/pyrotechnic devices that the public cannot use anywhere within or outside firecracker zones or designated community fireworks display areas identified by LGUs in preparation for the New Year celebration.
Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson, Col. Roderick Alba said there were many ways to celebrate the new year safely.
He also warned both sellers and buyers of illegal fireworks.
“We will look for overweight firecrackers that are more than 1/3 teaspoons — the oversized, those with a fuse that easily burns, imported finished products, and those with a mixture of sulfur and phosphorus,” he added.
Año also warned against the use of firearms to welcome the New Year.
“The DILG will not tolerate the use of firearms in welcoming the new year. We will apply the full force of the law against those that will fire their firearms during the new year. Let’s welcome the new year with clean hands and clean hearts,” he said.
