INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano warned anew against the use of firearms to welcome the New Year.

Ano said the DILG will enforce the full force of the law to those who will fire their firearms during the revelries.

“Let’s welcome the New Year with clean hands and clean hearts,” said Ano, as he assured the public that indiscriminate firing will be dealt with accordingly.

“Napakasakit po mabalitaang may mga nasasaktan o namamatay dahil sa indiscriminate shooting. Kung iyong mga paputok nga mahigpit nating ipinagbabawal na gamitin, paano pa kaya iyong pagpapaputok ng baril,” he added.

The DILG mobilized the national police, fire department and the local government units to impose a crackdown on the manufacture, sale and use of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to prevent any injuries and fires in welcoming the next year.

Ano directed the PNP to be on the lookout for indiscriminate firing on New Year’s eve that may cause undue injury or death to innocent victims.

“Maliban sa kaligtasan mula sa COVID-19, nais nating maging ligtas ang bawat isa sa iligal na paputok at indiscriminate firing. Habang papalapit ang New Year, nagsusulputan pa rin ang mga ipinagbabawal na paputok. Kaya inaatasan ko ang PNP na doblehin ang pagmomonitor at pag-iinspeksyon para siguruhing hindi kakalat sa merkado at walang gagamit o madidisgrasya sa iligal na paputok,” he said.

The DILG chief said with the sudden increase in positivity rate in the National Capital Region, now is not the right time to be complacent and that the LGUs, the PNP, and BFP should see to it that people are adhering to alert level protocols and obeying rules on the use of firecrackers during the New Year’s Eve celebration.

Prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices include the watusi, piccolo, poppop, five star, pla-pla, lolo thunder, giant bawang, giant whistle bomb, atomic bomb, super lolo, atomic triangle, goodbye bading.

Others are large-size judas belt, goodbye philippines, goodbye delima, bin laden, hello columbia, mother rockets, goodbye napoles, coke-in-can, super yolanda, pillbox, mother rockets, boga, kwiton, and kabasi.

“We encourage people to use regulated firecrackers in designated areas only. The police is authorized to confiscate and destroy prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices as well as firecrackers used outside of community fireworks displays,” Ano said.

Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya urged the public to maintain individual self-discipline in adhering to minimum public health standards (MPHS) as the country slowly loosens up COVID-19 Alert Levels to facilitate economic recovery amid increased rate of vaccinated population. He enjoins the public “to be disciplined and to follow the rules on firecrackers to avoid accidents or injuries during the New Year revelry.”

REFRAIN FROM USING FIRECRACKERS — ELEAZAR

Former Philippine National Police chief-turned 2022 senatorial candidate Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday advised Filipinos to refrain from using fireworks and firecrackers to welcome the New Year.

The member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Hinirang’ Class of 1987 issued the reminder after the Department of Health said it has recorded 19 firework-related injuries days before December 31.

According to the DOH, this was 58 higher higher compared to the 2020 report of 12 cases during the same period.

“Nakikiusap tayo sa ating mga kababayan na kung maari ay ipagpaliban muna ang paggamit ng mga paputok at gamitin na lang nag pera sa mas makabuluhang bagay gaya ng pag-donate sa ating mga kababayang nasalanta ng bagyo,” said Eleazar who is running for senator under the Partido Reporma of another former PNP chief-turned Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ M. Lacson who is seeking the presidency next year.

“Napakahirap na ng buhay ngayon para dagdagan pa natin ng pampa-ospital kapag tayo ay madisgrasya,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar recalled that when he was still in the PNP, police officers are among the first responders in firework-related incidents and other emergency situations during the New Year’s celebration.

According to Eleazar, there seems to be the need to revisit Republic Act No. 7183 or the law which regulates and control the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. With Alfred Dalizon