LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) launched the “Oplan Paalala-Iwas Paputok” nationwide to avoid firecracker-related incidents this upcoming New Year celebration.
In Ilocos Norte, the bureau has been on heightened alert status beginning December 1 and has assigned personnel on standby to respond to fire incidents that may be caused by faulty Christmas lights and firecrackers, among others.
Fire Officer III Lee Jay Lucero, chief of the Public Information Unit of the BFP-Ilocos Norte, stated that they have been continuously conducting information dissemination activities like handing out flyers and going around neighborhoods to remind citizens about fire safety tips, proper lighting of firecrackers, and giving them a list of illegal firecrackers.
Moreover, Lucero also encouraged citizens to use alternative noisemakers like “torotot” or horns, car or motor honks, banging pot lids and pan covers as improvised cymbals, tambourines or drums, or play music to welcome the new year, rather than using firecrackers to avoid fire-incidents and other injuries.
“Para maiwasan ang mga sunog sa mga bahay dahil sa paputok, maaring maghanda ang mga residente ng fire extinguishers o mga timba na may tubig para mas maagang maagapan kung magka-sunog,” he encouraged.
“Sa mga bahay na may anahaw roofing o mga madaling masunog, advise namin na basahin ang mga bubong isang oras bago ang bagong taon para kung sakaling may bababang paputok, hindi agad masusunog ang bahay,” Lucero added.
The BFP-Ilocos Norte will also conduct inspections for firecracker vendors to confiscate any illegal fireworks, check their permits to sell, and make sure that they have emergency fire extinguishers in their stores.
“Sa mga vendors na mahuhuli na nagbebenta ng mga iligal na paputok, maco-confiscate ang kanilang paninda, matatanggalan ng permit to sell, at pwede silang magmulta,” Lucero said.
As per Republic Act No. 7183 or the law on pyrotechnic devices, persons caught manufacturing, selling, distributing and purchasing illegal firecrackers may be imprisoned from six months to a year, and may be fined from P20,000 to P30,000.
Under the said law, the following firecrackers are illegal to sell – watusi or dancing firecracker, piccolo, pop pop, Super Lolo, boga, big Judah’s belt, Goodbye Philippines, Mother Rockets, Lolo Thunder, pillbox, Big Bawang, kwiton, kabasi, Atomic Bomb, five star, pla-pla, og, giant whistle bomb, and unlabeled firecrackers. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
FO3 Lee Jay Lucero, chief of the Public Information Unit of the BFP Ilocos Norte, serves as a guest during the “Danggay iti Panagdur-as” radio program of the PIA Ilocos Norte to discuss fire safety this upcoming New Year. (EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
