THE Interior department on Friday urged the Philippine National Police to immediately release the criteria that will determine which firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices are prohibited.
DILG Undersecretary for Peace and Order Catalino Cuy made the directive following the recent signing by President Rodrigo Duterte of Executive Order No. 28 which provides for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Cuy said that PNP’s adherence to the stipulations of EO 28 would ensure reduction in the number of injuries and casualties caused by the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
“The reduction of firecracker-related accidents will emanate from PNP’s criteria of banned firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, which is why conforming to EO 28 is significant,” he said.
Under EO 28 and pursuant to Republic Act 7183, the PNP should promulgate the criteria on what constitutes forbidden firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices within 30 days upon the effectivity of the EO No. 28 for the guidance of the public.
The EO was signed and has taken effect last June 20, 2017.
RA 7183 is the law which regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
According to Section 3 of EO 28, the PNP must provide a specific list of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
All firecrackers falling under such criteria may not be manufactured, sold, distributed, or used even as part of a community fireworks display.
Cuy said the order also tapped the PNP to carry out its provisions of granting authority or permission to licensed and trained personnel who would supervise the use of firecrackers in a secure, designated, and confined area.
“The PNP will give EO 28 the needed ‘teeth’ since majority of its implementation rests in its immediate adherence to its provisions,” he said.