With the New Year’s celebration
TACLOBAN CITY – Ahead of the New Year’s celebration, police authorities in the region asked the public to use only firecrackers and fireworks sold in stalls accredited by them.
Based on the record of the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police(PNP), there are only 120 retailers were given permits to sell firecrackers and fireworks across the region.
Of this number, eight are in Tacloban City; 31 in Leyte; 27 in Northern Samar; 10 in Biliran; five in Samar; 17 in Southern Leyte, and 22 in Eastern Samar.
The PNP also gave permits to three fireworks and firecrackers distributors in the region.
On Tuesday (Dec.26), police regional director, B/Gen. Reynaldo Pawid personally led an inspection of stalls selling firecrackers in Tacloban City.
“Ang pinaghahandaan natin ngayon is to ensure na this coming New Year’s celebration wala talagang mangyaring insidente lalo na yung iwasan natin ang paggamit ng bawal na paputok para walang masaktan at masunog na ari-arian,” Pawid said in a brief interview.
The PNP-8 top official added that the Tacloban City Police Office had apprehended individuals who were selling firecrackers without permits and confiscated illegal firecrackers.
Since December 22 monitoring of the Department of Health, the health agency has recorded one incident of firecracker related injury throughout the region.
The firecracker-related injury was reported from Palo town, involving an eight-year-old boy who was injured by “boga.”
The victim was brought to the Palo Rural Health Unit and was later sent home.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
