By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday urged residents to coordinate with local police stations or fire authorities for the proper disposal of unused firecrackers, which are considered hazardous waste.
In an interview in Taguig City on New Year’s Eve, NCRPO Chief PMaj. Gen. Anthony Aberin advised the public to turn over firecrackers they do not intend to use to police Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units or the Bureau of Fire Protection for their proper disposal.
“Huwag ninyong sarilihin i-dispose ang mga ito kasi may mga proseso tayong sinusundan,” he said.
Aberin on Wednesday witnessed the destruction of P1.4 million worth of confiscated illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, conducted by the NCRPO’s EOD unit as part of intensified public safety measures ahead of the New Year celebrations.
According to an EOD member, proper disposal does not involve dumping firecrackers into water, as cooling and drying can harden the powder and make it more dangerous. Instead, he said firecrackers are safely destroyed through controlled burning.
Aberin said the destruction of the illegal items demonstrates the NCRPO’s commitment to public safety and its campaign against prohibited firecrackers that pose serious risks to individuals.
He noted that among the destroyed items were firecrackers called Good-bye Philippines, the kind blamed for the recent death of a 12-year-old boy in Tondo, Manila.
Aberin warned that illegal firecrackers such as Yolanda, Kabase, and Goodbye Philippines can cause severe injuries even to people at a distance.
Instead of risking injury from firecrackers, the NCRPO chief encouraged the public to watch fireworks displays organized by local government units and to use safer alternatives such as “torotot” (party horns) or loud music to celebrate the New Year.
Security in countdown venues
Meanwhile, in a statement, Southern Police District (SPD) Chief PBrig. Gen. Randy Arceo ordered the deployment of 2,177 personnel to secure major New Year’s Eve countdown venues in southern Metro Manila.
Security operations, he said, cover three high-density areas: 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), which is expected to draw over 150,000 people; Makati Avenue corner Ayala Avenue, with around 32,000 attendees; and Seaside Boulevard at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA), also anticipating more than 150,000 revelers.
Arceo said the measures were reinforced through close coordination among law enforcement agencies, fire services, and other force multipliers to ensure swift responses to any incidents.
He added that the heightened police presence reflects the Philippine National Police’s commitment to protecting lives, maintaining peace and order, and ensuring a safe and orderly New Year celebration. (PNA)
