By LITO RULONA Correspondent THE Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Region 10 would continue the campaign for “zero firecracker casualties” in northern Mindanao as people prepare for the New Year revelries. Aian Caridad, DOH-Health Education Promotion officer, said the city and neighboring provinces had no recorded firecracker casualties the night before and after Christmas day, and the health department wants to keep it that way as Region 10 greets the coming year. Caridad said it was the first time that Cagayan de Oro registered an firecracker injury-free celebration during a Christmas celebration. There was also no record of a stray bullet injury in the region. “We were happy to know nga wala gyu’y injuries but padayon kita nga nag-monitor hangtud sa Jan. 5. Supportahan nato ang atong kampanya nga dili gayud magpaboto,” she said. The DOH is campaigning for other ways of making noise as part of the revelries. Instead of firecrackers, the DOH encourages blowing of horns and banging pans. Bureau of Fire Protection regional director Senior Supt. Domingo Tambalo said all fire stations were ordered to be on full alert at the start of the New Year’s Eve revelries. “Oplan Iwas Paputok sa lahat ng fire districts were implemented,” he said. Tambalo said that firefighters on firetrucks from 135 stations regionwide would be going around communities on Saturday night, hours before New Year’s Day. Meanwhile, National Police  Director General Ronald dela Rosa warned against indiscriminate firing as the police targets to achieve “zero casualty” in welcoming the New Year. “We want zero death, zero casualty caused by illegal discharge of firearms and indiscriminate firing during the New Year celebration,” dela Rosa said on Tuesday. He instructed all police officers nationwide to conduct patrols in the streets and strictly implement their campaign against indiscriminate firing from 5 pm of Dec. 31, 2016 to 5 am of Jan. 1, 2017. Dela Rosa also urged the local chief executives, especially the barangay officials, to join the police in patrolling the communities. Likewise, dela Rosa advised the police to immediately knock on the door of anyone involved in indiscriminate firing and if refused entry, devise means to get inside the house. He warned the chiefs of police to perform their duty and make sure that no incidents of indiscriminate firing would happen in their areas of responsibility. “Death caused by illegal discharge of firearms or indiscriminate firing wherein suspects are not arrested within 24 hours shall be a ground for the immediate relief of the chief of police,” dela Rosa said. “Whenever two chiefs of police are relieved for the same incident, their respective provincial director will likewise be relieved.” He said he would have “no mercy” on officers who would fire their guns indiscriminately. Dela Rosa said he would make sure that grave misconduct charges would be filed against those who would violate his directive aside from dismissal from the service. (with reports from pna)