Police: Stay safe on New Year’s Eve

Children hold placards with graphic illustrations of injuries caused by mishandling of firecrackers. Non-government organization Ecowaste Coalition led a light-hearted march on San Andres Extension St. in Malate district in Manila on Wednesday to discourage people from using firecrackers and instead use safe materials in making the traditional noise barrage on New Year’s Eve.

— PNA Photo

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga - “Stay safe this New Year’s Eve.”

This was the call of Police Regional Office III (PRO-3) Director Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus as he gave safety tips and again reminded the public from using prohibited firecrackers in welcoming the New Year.

“We want everyone to have a safe and happy New Year, and if you choose to use fireworks, make sure that you are not lighting illegal firecrackers because you can be arrested,” he said.

Corpus stressed that parents should make sure that their children should not discharge fireworks.

He said that extinguishers must be readily available in case something gets out of hand. “Also be careful not to combine alcohol and fireworks.”

Corpus appealed to the public to refrain from using prohibited firecrackers to avoid the risk of personal injury and fire in communities.

He also warned owners of guns not to engage in indiscriminate firing as he advised to turn in the firearms to the police to avoid breaking the law as police we are very strict in cracking down those who will fire indiscriminately.

Earlier, Corpus bared list of firecrackers zone and community fireworks display areas in Central Luzon in order to prevent casualties during the New Year revelry.

The 619 firecracker zones are in Aurora, 23; Bataan, 68; Nueva Ecija, 92; Pampanga, 31; Tarlac, 27; Zambales, 163; and Angeles City 14.

The Olongapo City government has banned using firecrackers in welcoming the new year.— Ric Sapnu