Cabanatuan City police head Lt. Col. Renato C. Morales shows the designated areas for fireworks and pyrotechnic device zones on his laptop, including the banned firecrackers under Republic Act 7183. Photo by STEVE A. GOSUICO
Ecija cops on heightened alert, put up firecracker zones to ensure safe New Year celebrations
CABANATUAN CITY – Nueva Ecija police director Col. Ferdinand D. Germino has placed the entire police in the province under heightened alert amid the Yuletide season celebrations.
City police head Lt. Col. Renato C. Morales said Germino also ordered the intensification of police intervention in order to ensure maximum preparedness and responsiveness for “Ligtas Paskuhan” from December 16 until January 6, 2025.
Morales said the security protocols also included ensuring the citizens’ safety during the celebration of New Year, particularly in the putting up of designated community fireworks displays (CFDs) and Firecracker Zones (FZs) in the city.
He said additional police units supported by augmentation forces and advocacy groups will be deployed because fireworks and firecrackers pose safety risks if not properly handled.
Under Republic Act 7183 or the Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices, Morales enumerated the prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnics as “Bin Laden, pillbox, kabasi, super Yolanda, boga, kwiton, hello Columbia, atomic triangle, mother rockets, goodbye Philippines, goodbye delima, goodbye napoles, coke-in-can, piccolo, Watusi, piccolo, five star and others.
The official warned police personnel to avoid indiscriminate firing during the celebration of New Year as those apprehended will both be charged administratively and criminally.
