Strict implementation of Oplan ‘Iwas Paputok’ seen
FIREWORKS DISPLAYS IN BARANGAYS
DAGUPAN City will arrange for the staging of fireworks display in barangays on December 31 in a bid to discourage residents from continuing with their traditional practice of lighting hazardous firecrackers.
Towards this end, Mayor Belen Fernandez formed Task Force “Iwas Paputok” that will set up the fireworks display during New Year revelry on December 31.
Fernandez decided on the fireworks display shortly after the Oplan: Iwas Paputok was launched in Dagupan City by the Department of Health (DOH) to remind city residents that the city topped in the number of firecracker injuries based on DOH records for the last two years.
DOH Region 1 Director Myrna Cabotaje, said they choose to launch the campaign in Dagupan City where the highest number of injured was recorded in the city in 2015-2016.
Among the top 10 cities and municipalities in 2015 to 2016 injury surveillance in the entire region was Dagupan City, Calasiao, Bayambang, San Carlos City, Manaoag, Umingan, Alaminos City, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Cabugao, Laoac and Vigan.
Comprising the task force are the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Health Office and the City Schools Division.
Fernandez tasked the group with the responsibility of strictly monitoring and regulating the manufacture, sale and lighting of firecrackers in the city in accordance with the DOH guidelines based on the Republic Act 7183, and to plan the implementation of safe fireworks displays in the barangays.
The prohibited firecrackers are piccolo, kwitis, 5 star, luces, boga, fountain, whistle bomb, pla pla, pill box, triangle, aerial repeater, baby rocket.
She said if the barangays have no adequate space for community fireworks display, she is ready to open the city plaza for them.
Fernandez said she supports the recommendation of City Fire Marshal Romie Tungpalan to designate the sale of firecrackers at the space below the New Pantal Bridge in Barangay Poblacion Oeste.
Tungpalan said the place is safer than Burgos street because it is beside the Calmay River.
Fernandez encouraged people here not to light firecrackers but instead use horns, toy trumpets or any other sound-producing gadgets (Leonardo Micua/ Nora Dominguez)
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