A JOINT task force will look into the illegal sale and use of firecrackers in Northern Mindanao to prevent firecracker-related accidents on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
The Task Force "Iwas Paputok" will comprise of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Internal and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Northern Mindanao.
The government agencies will each function in the prevention, response, and sanction concerning the illegal selling and any accidents involving firecrackers in the region.
The legal officer of the Consumer Welfare Division of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Northern Mindanao, Fel Lester Brilliantes, reported that the DTI in the region has so far not detected any production of firecrackers in the region.
He added majority of the firecrackers that are being sold in Northern Mindanao comes from Bulacan.
DTI's main responsibility in this task force will be to regulate and inspect the quality of the firecrackers for the safety of the consumers.
"It is quite impossible for ordinary consumers to detect fake or under-quality fireworks. That is why the best that everyone can do is to make sure that the firecrackers that they are buying has the import commodity clearance sticker or ICC sticker. That will be an assurance that the firecracker has been inspected by DTI," Brilliantes said.
Brilliantes also said they have only issued 26 permits to business individuals to sell fireworks in the region, adding this number will rise for the succeeding weeks.
The PNP-Northern Mindanao and DILG will coordinate with other offices such as DTI in the prevention of any illegal selling and usage of fireworks.
Police Superintendent Virgilio Buena, chief of the regional civil security unit of PNP-Northern Mindanao, said their office is open for any reports about the illegal merchandise of firecrackers.
The Department of Health, on the other hand, campaigns their "Oplan Iwas Paputok." The DOH-Northern Mindanao forwards the prohibition of individual or residential use and possession of firecrackers or similar devices.
The regional office of DOH encouraged everyone to use other means of noise-making such as hornpipes or "torotots" and pushed for community fireworks displays in barangays or communities in line with their other campaign, "Iwas Paputok, Fireworks Display and Patok."
"By community-initiated fireworks displays, it can be assured that there is safety and coordination among numerous stakeholders in a certain area. Hence, as compared to residential or individually organized firecracker use, this is safer," said Dr. Myra Luminiares of the violence injury protection program of DOH-Northern Mindanao.
According to the regional data of DOH for the past two years, while the number of injuries that are being reported during the Christmas and New Year festivities have decreased, Misamis Oriental remained as the highest in the list of firecracker-connected injuries. In 2014, there has been a total of 24 firecracker injuries reported which decreased to 18 cases in 2015. Following Misamis Oriental is Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental.
Male children are also the most common victims of these injuries. The piccolo firecracker is also the most common cause of these injuries. This is mainly because piccolo is the most easily bought firecracker by children due to its cheap price. With this, the DOH and the DTI asks parents to be stricter about their children's access to piccolo as well as other firecrackers.
BFP information officer Noli dela Rita said it is better if the citizens themselves will take part in the safe celebration of Christmas and New Year in the city by obeying the policies and precautions that are being placed by this task force.