“Please, let us all welcome the New Year in one piece.”
This call was made by Mayor Honey Lacuna, even as she discouraged the city residents from staging their own fireworks display or lighting up firecrackers on their own, while issuing related directives on the matter.
Instead, Lacuna is inviting the public to watch the fireworks display which will be held at the iconic Manila Clock Tower as the city’s way of ushering in the New Year or any community-sponsored display which is under the rigid supervision of their respective barangays.
Lacuna said that pursuant to a call made by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla and based on what was done in Manila last year in an effort to prevent firecracker-related injuries, certain rules and regulations on firecrackers and other pyrotechnics will be enforced.
The lady mayor also stressed that losing a limb or even a life just for a moment of enjoyment from lighting up firecrackers is not worth it.
She specifically warned children against playing with firecrackers, citing instances when they get injured, sometimes even seriously, for picking up firecrackers that fail to explode.
Lacuna appealed to parents to guide their children well and help in the city government’s campaign against the use of firecrackers, specially those that are highly-prohibited for containing highly-explosive materials that could endanger lives and limbs.
According to the mayor, there are safer ways of creating noise as part of the revelry such as using horns, or pots and pans.
Through an Executive Order issued before Christmas, fireworks will only be allowed in permitted staging areas which should have accompanying special permits that have been applied for three days prior to the event and which have been issued by the Bureau of Permits.
Lacuna said the city government listed down the firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that will be allowed for use only in community fireworks display areas and the information had been disseminated to the barangays and through the city’s social media accounts. for use.
Those that are prohibited for use, manufacture, sale or distribution in Manila are the ones without proper labels; those that contain sulfur or phosphorus combined with chlorates; those that are oversized with short fuse that detonate in less than three seconds and all others that could endanger lives and limbs as determined by the Philippine National Police.
The applicants for permits, she said, are required to follow certain safety guidelines before, during and after the fireworks display, among them the presence of standby firetrucks, at least five lookouts or security guards to be posted in strategic areas to serve as fire suppression team in the event of an incidental fire. They are also expected to have a team of first-aid medical personnel on standby and ensure proper disposal of all debris and waste fragments after the event.
The lady mayor stressed that those granted permits are also warned against exploding fireworks that are not specified in their application, saying doing so will be illegal and will cause the blacklisting or banning of the proponent from future applications in the future.
According to Lacuna, penalties and fines await violators of the prohibitions stated in her executive order, which she said, was spurred by the continuing rise in the number of firecracker-related injuries way ahead of the New Year celebrations.
The order issued was also meant to protect city homes and structures against incidental fires as well as the safety of the residents themselves, Lacuna said.
