The Department of the Interior and Local Government reminded Filipinos on Friday to refrain from ushering the New Year with firecrackers as it highlighted the risk of injuries.
Authorities will seize Illegal firecrackers, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said. It has been the tradition of Filipinos to light firecrackers or watch fireworks on New Year's Eve.
“The PNP is authorized to immediately confiscate illegal firecrackers and make arrests when necessary so the industry is advised to just follow the law," Malaya said in a statement.
The DILG said the following are prohibited firecrackers:
1. Watusi
2. Piccolo
3. Poppop
4. Five Star
5. Pla-Pla
6. Lolo Thunder
7. Giant Bawang
8. Giant Whistle Bomb
9. Atomic Bomb
10. Atomic Triangle
11. Large-size Judas Belt
12. Goodbye Delima
13. Hello Columbia
14. Goodbye Napoles
15. Super Yolanda
16. Mother Rockets
17. Kwiton
18. Super Lolo
19. Goodbye Bading
20. Goodbye Philippines
21. Bin Laden
22. Coke-in-can
23. Pillbox
24. Boga
25. Kabasi
26. Other similar firecrackers
The government is aiming for zero firecracker-related injuries this year after the country recorded only four incidents from Dec. 31, 2019 to Jan. 1, 2020, the DILG said.
In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order that limited the use of firecrackers.
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With Christmas fast approaching, Dr. Victoria Nolasco of the University of the Philippines Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics urged families--particularly those with children--to revisit their planned activities for the holidays.
"Spending the holidays with extended family members or relatives heightens the risk as these people are also bringing in exposure from their workplaces, residential areas where they came from, and people they have interacted with during their commute or travel,” Nolasco said.
Health authorities have repeatedly discouraged the public from gathering in groups of more than 10 this Christmas to minimize the risks of spreading COVID-19.
Traditional holiday activities such as karaoke singing, and street caroling were also prohibited.
Earlier, the government also prohibited shopping malls from allowing the entry of children to prevent the likely spike of COVID-19 cases.
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