MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) aims to reduce by 50 percent the cases of indiscriminate firing and stray bullets as well as firecracker injuries in Metro Manila during the New Year revelry.
NCRPO chief Director Guillermo Eleazar expressed hope they could attain their goal after embarking on a massive information campaign.
“We are ready to secure Metro Manila residents during the New Year celebration,” Eleazar said after conducting inspections of bus terminals, airports and seaports yesterday.
“We advised the public not to be alarmed over the additional deployment of policemen in the metropolis to keep them away from harm,” he added.
Eleazar urged the public to use 506 designated firecracker zones identified by police and local government units (LGUs) .
He said the residents could watch fireworks displays in 25 established community fireworks display zones in the metropolis.
The NCRPO recorded 360 injuries from firecrackers in 2016. The figure went down to 248 during the New Year revelry in 2017.
As of yesterday, the NCRPO recorded six firecracker blast victims and two children who swallowed firecrackers.
“It’s a long way to go before our deadline on Jan. 7 next year but we are aiming for a 50 percent reduction in firecracker injuries,” Eleazar said.
A total of 10,000 policemen would be deployed in Metro Manila, especially in areas where incidence of indiscriminate firing and stray bullets occured in the past years.
Police would arrest persons found involved in indiscriminate firing and those selling banned firecrackers under Executive Order 28 signed by President Duterte.
Eleazar said he would conduct an accounting of personnel at the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig at 12 noon today.
He said they would download 200 personnel from the Regional Headquarters, along with the same number from the Reactionary Standby Support Source Force to the five police districts for augmentation purposes.
“We would be in every nook and corner of Metro Manila during the New Year revelry. We urged the public to report to the nearest police station incidents of indiscriminate firing,” Eleazar said.
Binay to LGUs: Set up street parties
Sen. Nancy Binay urged LGUs to organize community celebrations to help prevent accidents that harm children during the New Year festivities.
Binay called on the public to employ more creative ways to usher in the New Year instead of resorting to fireworks and firecrackers.
She also asked authorities to strictly monitor vendors selling prohibited firecrackers to protect the public.
“As a parent, we must be creative in welcoming the New Year. We must limit the use of firecrackers to protect our children,” Binay said in a statement.
She urged LGUs, particularly barangays, to organize activities that will foster a deeper sense of community among residents.
“Maybe the mayor can set up a KTV or a street party. It doesn’t have to be ostentatious. They can ask people to pitch in or do potluck,” she said.
She said the increase in prices of basic goods due to inflation could dissuade families from purchasing firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Binay has filed in the last two Congresses a bill to “reduce injuries sustained by children by prohibiting the selling, giving, or in any way sharing of firecrackers.”
She said the police should exhaust all efforts to reduce the number of fireworks-related injuries this year.
Injuries from firecrackers have been on the decline from 633 cases in 2016 to 463 cases last year, the Department of Health reported.
In Manila, Mayor Joseph Estrada designated 75 firecracker zones in 42 barangays and two fireworks display zones in the city.
Estrada said the fireworks display zones are the Manila Ocean Park and Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo.
He urged Manilans to be extra careful in welcoming the New Year.
“Let’s hope for zero-firecracker injuries,” Estrada said. – Paolo Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano