Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, on Wednesday ordered police units to constantly coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) to synchronize the data on firecracker-related injuries in their areas of jurisdiction.
“We have previous experiences that some victims aren’t reporting to the PNP, especially those with only minor injuries. The tendency is, these cases will not be recorded in our police blotter while the hospitals or the DOH has taken note of them,” Carlos said in a statement.
The PNP said this is to avoid conflicting data among government agencies that may confuse the public.
“Accurate numbers are important to assess the result of our campaign for a safe and orderly celebration of the New Year. It won’t hurt anything if we just double-check the figures,” Carlos said.
Carlos said the PNP adheres to the statement of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año that it is the PNP’s responsibility to enforce policies regulating the manufacture and use of firecrackers through the conduct of inspections, confiscation, and destruction of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
Executive Order 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 is the responsibility of the PNP and the LGUs to enforce national and local policies regulating the manufacture and use of firecrackers through the conduct of inspections, and confiscation and destruction of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
Violations include a fine of PHP20,000 to PHP30,000, imprisonment of six months to one year, cancellation of license and business permit and confiscation of inventory stocks.
Under Memorandum Order No. 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 (FC/PDs) 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.
The firecrackers regulated for sale and use are baby rockets, bawang, el diablo, Judas’ belt, paper caps, pulling of strings, skyrocket, small triangulo, and other types that are not oversized, overweight, and imported.
On the other hand, pyrotechnic devices or “pailaw” allowed to be sold and used are the butterfly, fountain, jumbo regular and special, luces, Mabuhay, Roman candle, sparklers, trompillo, and whistle device. (PNA)