BAGUIO CITY— The Department of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera issued guidelines regulating and controlling the use of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices in the region this holiday season.
“Our local chief executives are authorized to promulgate necessary rules and regulations on firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices within their territorial jurisdiction,” said OIC-Regional Director Araceli San Jose today.
The Department also directs the LCEs to enforce the prohibition on the use of illegal firecrackers. Piccolo, Watusi, Giant Whistle Bomb, Giant Bawang, Large Judas Belt, Super Lolo, Lolo Thunder, Atomic Bomb, Atomic Bomb Triangulo, Pillbox, Boga, Kwiton, goodbye Earth, Hello Columbia, Coke-In-Can, Goodbye Bading, OG, and Kabasi are some of the prohibited firecrackers identified.
She stated that the prohibited firecrackers are those that are overweight and oversized, all imported finished products, and unlabeled locally-made products.
It can be recalled that President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 28, which provides for the regulation and control of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, states that the use of fireworks is limited to the display of fireworks.
Meanwhile, OIC-RD San Jose reminded local government units to ensure that the Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) and the Department of Health’s (DOH) minimum public health standards (MPHS) are followed during the upcoming holidays, particularly in designated firecracker zones and communities where fireworks display will be held.
She also stated that community firework displays are permitted, but must first be authorized by local government units (LGUs), and that health precautions such as social distancing, wearing of face masks/shields, and regular hand washing are complied with.
On the issue of indiscriminate firing, OIC-RD San Jose said that the Department will not tolerate the use of firearms in welcoming the New Year and will take necessary actions against those who will be caught firing their weapons indiscriminately during the long holidays. (RIU/DILG-CAR)
