TACLOBAN CITY: The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office has heightened its watch against prohibited firecrackers in this city as part of the campaign for a safe New Year revelry.
PNP Eastern Visayas Director Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Pawid on Friday led the inspection of firecrackers and fireworks retailers at their designated vending posts in this city’s downtown area.
The PNP issued permits to 120 retailers to sell authorized firecrackers and fireworks throughout the region.
Eight of the sellers are in Tacloban, 31 in different parts of Leyte province, 27 in Northern Samar, 10 in Biliran, 5 in Samar, 17 in Southern Leyte, and 22 in Eastern Samar.
The PNP also gave permits to three fireworks and firecracker distributors in the region.
‘The inspection aims to ensure that dealers and retailers of these firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices don’t sell any prohibited or illegal items and comply with fire safety rules,’ Pawid said.
As of Dec. 28, the Department of Health has recorded four fireworks-rel
ated injuries in Eastern Visayas, all males.
The victims were an eight-year-old from Palo, Leyte; a six-year-old from Taft, Eastern Samar; and a 24-year-old from Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
They suffered head and eye injuries for igniting a “lantaka’ or portable cannon.
The fourth victim is an 11-year-old from Paranas, Samar, who sustained a hand injury for igniting a Five Star, one of the firecrackers banned by the government.
Source: Philippines News Agency