Muntinlupa City to set up random checkpoints vs. firecrackers

From gmanetwork.com:

Police will set up random checkpoints around Muntinlupa City to apprehend violators of the local government’s ordinance declaring a total ban on firecrackers.

Senior Superintendent Nicolas Salvador, Muntinlupa City police chief, said they will particularly arrest sidewalk vendors who are selling firecrackers.

“Confiscation and arrest [ang sanctions]. Kasi sa regulations naman is especially kung sidewalk bawal na bawal and even in malls bawal yung ganyan,” Salvador said.

A report by GMA News’ Kara David on Balitanghali said that according to Muntinlupa City Administrator Engr. Allan Cachuela, the city ordinance against firecrackers was the reason they were able to keep the casualties to a minimum in New Year’s Eve celebrations last year where.

Cachuela said that they had only two firecracker injuries recorded last year.

“Yan po ang isa sa mga pamamaraan namin na para maging safe naman yung aming mamamayan wala na lang magbebenta,” he said.

Cachuela said that fireworks display products can be sold in the city provided that the vendors have secured a permit from the Bureau of Protection.

The city official urged the other cities to follow their example to prevent firecracker casualties.

“Nasa market na kasi. In-allow mo magbenta kahit sino makakabili naman diyan. Hindi natin masiguro na ‘yan ang maiimplement ng husto,” he said.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that victims of firecrackers are getting younger each year.

The DOH said that majority of the victims are aged between 6 and 15 years old and majority of them were hurt by Picollo firecrackers.

The Metro Manila Council for its part reminded member cities to abide by their 2011 resolution, which requires local governments to designate firecracker zones where residents will be allowed to light fireworks and firecrackers.

“It urges all local government units to priovide a common space for its fireworks display ng kanyang mga residents. To discourage citizens from lighting up firecrackers and fireworks from their homes,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Emerson Carlos said. —Andrei Medina/ALG, GMA News