Mayor Along to public: Don't use firecrackers during New Year celebrations
Just a few days before 2024, Caloocan Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan on Tuesday, Dec. 26, urged the public to refrain from using illegal firecrackers to prevent injuries and fires especially in crowded areas.
Malapitan said the city government has already issued its “Iwas Paputok” guidelines to encourage the residents to use safer and more sustainable methods of celebrating the New Year’s Eve.
The city council had earlier passed City Executive Order No. 032-22 prohibiting the use of illegal firecrackers in the city due to the danger they pose to the general public.
The mayor stressed that everyone’s priority should be to have a safe send-off to 2023, rather than to have multiple accidents due to negligent use of such firecrackers.
“Paalala lang po sa ating mga kababayan, salubungin po natin ang Bagong Taon nang ligtas. Mas malakas po ang mga paputok sa tuwing nagpapalit ng taon, kaya naman gumamit tayo ng ligtas na alternatibo kagaya ng ibang mga pailaw at malalakas na tugtugin (I would like to remind everyone to welcome the New Year safely. As the New Year comes, the bigger and louder the firecrackers are, hence, let's just use much safer alternatives such as playing loud music and other lighting materials)," Malapitan said.
“Hindi lang po kayong mga magpapaputok ang masasaktan. Alalahanin po ninyo ang mga bata, mga matatandang may sakit, ang mga alagang hayop, at ang kalikasan na maaring maapektuhan dahil sa mga masasamang epekto ng mga paputok (You're not the only ones who could be injured while using firecrackers. Let's be courteous to the children, those who have breathing problems, pets, and the nature that can surely be adversely affected by these firecrackers)," he added.
The public is also reminded to contact the city’s Alert and Monitoring Hotline at 02-888-ALONG (25664) / 09167976365 / 09477964372 in case of accident or emergency situations.