QC launches crackdown on firecrackers ahead of New Year revelries

Private households in Quezon City are prohibited from using firecrackers, and only those approved types can be used in public places, the local government reiterated over the weekend.

In an emailed statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte cited the 47% increase in emergencies and injuries related to the unregulated and indiscriminate use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices recorded in 2021.

“We want to minimize, if not totally eliminate, the number of firecracker-related injuries and casualties,” she said.

“We also want to protect homes, commercial buildings, and other structures against incidental fires and to lessen the harmful effects of hazardous chemicals and pollutants,” she added.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it sees a downward trend in firework-related injuries from 2016 to 2021, but urged the public to continue practicing safer celebrations of the New Year by using alternative ways to create loud noises.

Under Executive Order 54 S-2022, Belmonte ordered that fireworks displays should first secure a permission or authorization from the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS).

Sale of permissible firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices is almost limited within shopping malls with clearance from the DPOS, and a special permit from the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD).

“The sale of the same in places such as public sidewalks, tiangges, stores, and similar establishments shall be strictly prohibited,” she added, “selling, sharing, or giving firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to minors is also not allowed.”

Violators could face fines of P5,000 or a one-year imprisonment, or both at the discretion of the court.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last week released a list of certified fireworks and firecrackers with the Philippine Standard (PS) mark for guaranteed safety and quality. —LBG, GMA Integrated News