MAYOR Belen Fernandez has directed the Dagupan City Police Office (DCPO) on the eve of the New Year to confiscate illegal fireworks and apprehend those responsible for their sale or manufacture.

In a statement posted on her Facebook page, Mayor Fernandez emphasized her obligation under the Local Government Code to prioritize public safety by refusing permits for activities that pose significant risks to the community.

She highlighted that, following a directive from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP) is authorized to conduct operations targeting illegal fireworks.

This comes in response to a tragic incident on Christmas Day, when an explosion at a suspected firecracker factory in Barangay Bacayao Norte claimed two lives and injured eight others.

Consequently, Fernandez ordered the police to carry out house-to-house searches for any illegal fireworks operations.

The police are now empowered to arrest anyone involved in the manufacture or sale of illegal fireworks. To reinforce these efforts, the DILG and PNP have issued annual guidelines aimed at strictly enforcing laws related to fireworks and pyrotechnics, especially during the holiday season.

Since the early hours of December 31, police mobile patrols, using public address systems, have been rounding up barangays, urging residents to refrain from using firecrackers.

A designated firecracker zone has been established next to the Calmay River, where people can purchase regulated firecrackers to safely celebrate the New Year.

Mayor Fernandez has appealed to the people of Dagupan to opt for noisemakers like horns and plastic trumpets instead of firecrackers, which can pose serious dangers to public safety. (Leonardo Micua)