By Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY – Only three
persons were reportedly injured by firecrackers during New Year’s eve in
Zamboanga del Norte, according to a report released by the ZANORTE Medical
Center here yesterday.
Dr. Romelo M. Vergara, ZANORTE Medical Center
chief of hospital, told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that only three
patients were treated for minor burns from firecrackers after the New Year’s
Day celebration.
Vergara attributed these less cases of
firecracker injuries to the government’s campaign against pyrotechnics.
Earlier the Philippine National Police (PNP)
has also ordered “muzzle taping” to prevent “illegal discharge” of firearms
during the New Year celebration, including the firearms issued to security
guards.
In reiterating said orders, PNP-9 Regional
Director Juanito Vaño Jr. had enjoined all police stations in the region as
well as the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) and National Support Units
(NSUs) to ensure compliance with the same.
Moreover, the PNP has also coordinated with
the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government units (LGUs) in the
implementation of Republic Act (RA) 7183, an act regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution
and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
The police force also provided
airtight security in all parts of the country
during the New Year’s Day celebration to keep the public safe and to
prevent any untoward incident.
In
Zamboanga City where the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics was totally
banned by the city government during Christmas day and New Year’s Day, zero casualty/injury
was noted in said city. (PIA9)