By Zorayda Tecson/PNA
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — At least 898 areas in Central Luzon have been designated as firecracker zones for the safe celebration of New Year’s Day.
Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, acting director of the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO 3) on Saturday said the designation of firecracker zones conforms to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 28 seeking to confine the use of firecrackers only in assigned places.
“It aims to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties as well as fire incidents to happen this holiday season caused by fireworks and firecrackers,” Coronel said.
The designated firecracker zones in the region were broken down as follows: Bulacan, 351; Bataan, 195; Zambales, 163; Nueva Ecija, 93; Pampanga, 30; Tarlac, 29; Aurora, 23; and Angeles City, 14.
He said the designated areas were identified by the police, in coordination with the respective local government units in the region.
“The use of firecrackers in the designated areas will be conducted under the supervision of a trained person duly licensed by the Philippine National Police (PNP),” he said.
Meanwhile, the PRO3 chief appealed the residents to refrain from using illegal firecrackers to avoid any injuries.
“Instead of using firecrackers, we could all welcome the New Year with other forms of merriment to ensure a safe and healthy celebration of the holiday festivity,” Coronel added.
Among the fireworks prohibited are Piccolo, Super Lolo, Atomic Triangle, large Judas Belt, large Bawang, Pillbox, improvised PVC cannons known as “boga”, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, Mother Rocket, Lolo Thunder, Coke in Can, Atomic Bomb, Five Star, Pla-Pla, giant Whistle Bomb, Kabasi and Watusi.
The list of firecrackers allowed inside the firecracker zone are Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Judas Belt, Paper Caps, Pulling of Strings, Sky Rocket or Kwitis and Small Trianggulo.
The pyrotechnic devices that can be used outside the firecracker zone, on the other hand, are Butterfly, Fountain, jumbo Regular and Special; Luces; Mabuhay; Roman Candle; Trompillo; Whistle Devices and all kinds of pyrotechnic devices (pailaw).
