After Christmas Day, preparations are now focused on welcoming the New Year for fresh beginnings, and saying “goodbye” to 2025, grateful for the lessons we learned. Yet amid the festive spirit, it bears repeating that the use of firecrackers is not a harmless tradition. It is a regulated activity governed by law, shaped by hard lessons from past injuries, fires, and deaths. Observing these rules is not about dampening joy; it is about protecting lives—especially those of children.

Several laws and regulations clearly prohibit or strictly limit the use of firecrackers. Republic Act No. 9514, or the Fire Code of the Philippines, bans the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of illegal and hazardous firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices. Violators face fines and imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the offense. Complementing this is Executive Order No. 28, which restricts the use of firecrackers and encourages community fireworks displays instead.

The intent is clear: shift from individual, risky use of fireworks and firecrackers to controlled, professionally managed celebrations.

Under existing rules enforced by the Philippine National Police (PNP) through its Firearms and Explosives Office, illegal, oversized, overweight, imported, and unlabeled firecrackers are strictly prohibited. These include notorious items such as piccolo, five-star, boga, watusi, giant bawang, Judas Belt, and many others that have repeatedly caused serious injuries. Those caught selling or using banned firecrackers face penalties that include fines of up to ₱20,000 and imprisonment of six months to one year, aside from possible administrative and local sanctions.

The PNP has been firm and visible in its campaign. Police units nationwide have intensified inspections of firecracker stalls, warehouses, and storage facilities, including online platforms where illegal sales often thrive. Police leadership has also warned that commanders who fail to enforce firecracker regulations will be held accountable.

Importantly, the law does not impose a total ban on fireworks. Local government units are encouraged—and repeatedly urged by the PNP—to designate specific firecracker zones. These zones provide controlled spaces where only legal firecrackers may be used, away from homes, hospitals, gasoline stations, and crowded streets. Outside these designated areas, lighting firecrackers remains prohibited.

Meanwhile, LGU-organized fireworks displays, handled by licensed professionals, are promoted as the safest way for communities to celebrate. Public fireworks shows in city plazas, bays, and open fields allow families to enjoy the spectacle without exposing themselves to danger.

The rationale for these restrictions is grounded in painful reality. During the 2024 holiday season, the Department of Health recorded 771 firework-related injuries from Dec. 22, 2024 to Jan. 2, 2025—a 27.6 percent increase from the previous year. Many victims were minors. Common causes included kwitis, five-star firecrackers, and improvised cannons such as boga. Some injuries were so severe that they resulted in permanent disability, including amputations. The season also saw a fatality from a stray bullet fired during New Year revelries, underscoring how reckless celebrations can turn deadly.

Even before New Year’s Eve this year, injuries were already being reported, many linked to illegal firecrackers. These figures should give pause to anyone who still believes that “sandali lang” or “minsan lang sa isang taon” justifies the risk.

The message as we welcome the New Year is simple and urgent. Celebrations must be joyful, not tragic. The laws are in place, the penalties are clear, and safer alternatives exist. By respecting firecracker regulations, supporting LGU-designated zones, and choosing community fireworks displays over dangerous personal use, we can usher in the New Year with what truly matters: safety, responsibility, and hope.