Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29) — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has ordered a crackdown on the manufacture, sale, and use of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to prevent fires and casualties.
“Ito pong direktibang ito ay ibinigay ni Secretary Año sa ating mga local government units, sa Philippine National Police, kasama narin po ang Bureau of Fire Protection,” Department of the Interior and Local Government spokesman Jonathan Malaya said in a press briefing.
[Translation: This directive was given by Secretary Año to local government units, the Philippine National Police, and Bureau of Fire Protection.]
Malaya added authorities have the power to confiscate and destroy these products.
He made the remark after the Department of Health recorded 25 firecracker-related injuries ahead of the New Year revelries.
An executive order signed in 2017 limits the use of pyrotechnics to community fireworks displays to minimize the risk of deaths or injuries.
For his part, acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles urged Filipinos to send help to victims of Typhoon Odette instead of buying fireworks.
