Alagar orders crackdown on sale of illegal firecrackers in Normin

WITH the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) remaining a threat, Police Regional Office 10 on Thursday, ordered an intense drive against the use, sale and distribution of prohibited firecrackers to ensure public safety as the New Year approaches.

Camp Alagar spokesperson Pol. Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Olaivar said the police offices in Northern Mindanao have been ordered to inspect and seize unlawful or illegal firecrackers.

“We want to ensure that everyone is safe from prohibited firecrackers,” said Olaivar, adding, as New Year nears, illegal firecrackers are appearing.

She said that is why PRO 10 regional director PBGen Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., tasked the police to double its efforts in monitoring and conducting inspections to ensure that illegal fireworks won’t reach the market and no one can use or be hurt by them.

OLaivar said the order was based on Republic Act 7183, An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices and Executive Order 28 providing for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

“The regional police office approved 120 retailers while the national headquarters approved 3 manufactures of firecrackers in region 10,” said Olaivar.

“We want to ensure that everyone is safe from prohibited firecrackers,” said Olaivar.

She also said the police with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other concerned agencies, is tasked to conduct inspections to ensure that manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and users of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices are complying with safety guidelines.

“The public is advised to buy only at the designated selling areas of firecrackers,” said Olaivar, adding that as New Year nears, illegal firecrackers are appearing.

Olaivar said, the police ordered to double its efforts in monitoring and conducting inspections to ensure that illegal fireworks won’t reach the market and no one can use or be hurt by them.

Meanwhile, Acorda, during Talakayan sa PIA, media forum at SM City Cagayan de Oro said that as far as the implementation of the regulation of firecrackers, especially those illegal, law enforcers will do inspection and seizure and as far as giving license or permit to dealers.

“As of now here in Region 10, there are only three authorized dealers particularly Dragon Fireworks, Chada and Digespic Enterprises.

With regard to retailers, we have a total of 106 as of now, according to Acorda, however, Olaivar said that 120 retailers were already approved as of Thursday, Dec 30.

Acorda also said that for those caught selling illegal firecrackers, in reference to RA 7183, the penalty is not less than P20,000 nor more than P30,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than one year or both.

Acorda said he is also asking their personnel to avoid unauthorized gun firing during New Year’s because that is the most dangerous.

“Whether pataas ‘yung pagpapaputok ng baril it’s the same velocity kasi pagbaba (Whether the shooting is upward, it’s the same velocity going down),” he said.

“There is no need for us to tape our nozzle, as expected and manifestation of discipline to our policemen.

All the firearms issued to our personnel, are with identification and ballistics. We will not tolerate those that will fire their guns for New Year’s eve,” he said.

As to the coming election, Acorda said the main instruction of chief PNP, is that the police should not be used in partisanship and also to make sure that this coming local and national election, would be done honestly, orderly and peacefully. (Ben Balce with a report from PIA-10)