Protect yourself and your surroundings as you welcome the New Year!
This is one of the busiest times of the year for most people.
This is also the time of the year when cases of accident, even stealing, are rampant.
Uncontrolled eating also happens for many this season, so it is important to be cautious and alert, not only in our surroundings but in taking care of ourselves as well.
This New Year celebration, the government is also warning the public not to use firecrackers in their homes, including piccolo or “scratch bangers” which is a major cause of firecracker-related injuries.
Aside from Piccolo, prohibited firecrackers include but are not limited to Super Lolo, Whistle Bomb, Goodbye Earth, Atomic Big Triangulo, Judas Belt, and Watusi.
All firecrackers with gunpowder exceeding two grams or 1.3 teaspoons are also strictly prohibited.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) stressed that there are designated “community firework areas” where “all allowable consumer pyrotechnics or ‘pailaw’ and fireworks can be lit.
According to RA 7183, only the following types of firecrackers can be manufactured, sold, distributed and used only in the designated community firework areas: baby rocket, bawang, small triangle, pulling of strings, paper caps, el diablo, and sky rocket (kwitis).
Meanwhile, the following pyrotechnic devices (pailaw) are allowed: sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo regular and special, Mabuhay Roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle device, and butterfly.
To be safe this New Year, here are some helpful tips.
