City raises warning on firecrackers

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

THE Iloilo City Government is raising the warning against using prohibited firecrackers during Christmas and New Year celebrations as these may cause injury or even death.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) regional office launched the Fireworks Injury Prevention Campaign 2011 to alert the public on the dangers of firecrackers.

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The campaign hopes to reduce the number of injuries and deaths caused by firecrackers and fireworks, indiscriminate firing of guns, firecracker powder ingestion and fireworks-related non-neonatal.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said children are the most vulnerable sector; and parents and elders should advise the children not to use firecrackers or pick up unused ones.

The DOH and the Trade Industry’s list of dangerous firecrackers include the watusi or the “dancing firecracker,” piccolo, super lolo, atomic big triangle, mother rockets, lolo thunder, pillbox, boga, Judas belt, big bawang, kwiton, goodbye Philippines, pla pla and giant whistle bomb.

Under the law, persons caught manufacturing, selling, distributing and purchasing these dangerous firecrackers may be imprisoned from six months to a year, and may be fined from P20,000 to P30,000.