EDITORIAL – No firecrackers, please

THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has warned the public anew against the sale and use of firecrackers and other forms of pyrotechnics, reminding citizens of the long-standing city ordinance that is the envy of many other local government units (LGUs) in the country. It’s the holidays once again and law enforcers want to make sure nobody gets hurt during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The spokesperson of the DCPO, Chief Inspector Milgrace C. Driz, said all police station commanders have been mandated to monitor their areas of responsibility for the possible sneaking in of firecrackers during the holidays. Despite full implementation of the law not only during the Yuletide season but all throughout the year, unscrupulous businessmen have the penchant for violating the ordinance just to gain profit, resulting in several arrests.
Although Davao City has been enjoying zero firecracker-related injuries for the past several years now since the ordinance was first implemented in 2001, there are still people violating the law by selling and exploding firecrackers. The DCPO recorded several arrests during the holidays last year and after New Year for firecracker use, including a barangay councilor. Although the number of arrests made dropped from the 39 recorded in 2013, the city has yet to accomplish a perfect record as the manufacture and sale of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices continue despite the total ban.
“We encourage the public not to sell, not to manufacture, and not to use firecrackers,” came Driz’s warning as the city gets ready to celebrate Christmas and New Year. The warning may sound like a broken record because it is repeated again and again, but people must understand the seriousness of law enforcers in delivering the message for it concerns the safety and convenience of everyone. Nobody wants to spend Christmas behind bars, and certainly no one wants to lose a finger or two in welcoming the New Year.