Public urged: Break tradition, no firecrackers

CEBU, Philippines – Police and health authorities have urged the public to break away from the tradition of using firecrackers during Christmas and New Year revelries to avoid accidents.

Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief directorial staff of Police Regional Office-7, vowed to intensify campaign against illegal firecrackers and those sold outside the firecracker zones. Lawas encouraged the public to avoid the use of firecrackers as much as possible.

“Normally this yuletide season daghan ta’g kaigsoonan, ma-dagko, ma-bata ug ma-tiguwang man, ma-babaye o ma-lalaki, would like to use firecracker mao na’ng pahugtan namo ang kampanya, at least malikayan nato ug mapa-ubsan nato ang mga insedente,” Lawas said.

According to Lawas, only the South Road Properties in Cebu City and Barangay Babag in Lapu-Lapu City were designated areas for selling firecrackers. All firecrackers sold outside of the two areas are considered illegal.

The Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) in Cebu City, however, said no one was caught selling firecrackers outside of the designated area in the city.

“So far, wala pa may nadakpan nga namaligya,” said Wendell Cenas of PROBE.

Cenas reminded the public to always consider safety as the primary consideration should they insist on using firecrackers to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

“Safety first gyud ta, mas maayo gyud unta to nga dili nalang mogamit ug mga pabuto kay mga putol atoang tudlo ana, mas nindot kung fireworks display nalang atong tan-awn this coming Christmas and New Year,” Cenas said.

Dr. Expedito Medalle, chief of the Health Emergency Management Staff, said the Department of Health has been discouraging the use of firecrackers but some people would insist on using it because of tradition.

“Tungod lagi sa atong tradisyon di gyud nato malikayan nga naa gyud ning pabuto hinaot pa gyud unta nga mag-amping sila. Hopefully nga ang mga katawhan maka-amgo na unsay kadaot nga mahatag sa mga pabuto,” Medalle said.

He lamented that the standards set by the government in the firecracker manufacturing has not been strictly implemented causing serious injuries and even deaths.

Medalle said the DOH is already prepared for any untoward incidents related to firecracker injuries.

“Ready na ang gabas ug mga dako nga gunting in kaso kung dunay mga ingon aba, putlonon o unsa ba. Pahimangno sa gininakanan aron mahatagan og maayong ugma ang ilang anak  hinaot maminaw sila sa gobyerno,” Medalle added. — Angelica Libodlibod, USJ-R Communication Intern/FPL (FREEMAN)