BFP: Just watch community fireworks display, or use safe noise-making materials on New Year revelry
By Chito Chavez
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) advised the public to just watch community fireworks displays instead of using prohibited firecrackers.
This, amid cases of serious injuries and even death that were reported in the past few days.
Another option to welcome 2026 is to utilize other noise making options like the banging of aluminum kitchen wares, blowing of car horns, horn-pipes, whistles and turning on videoke machines or gadgets.
The BFP also reminded that the use of illegal, harmful and dangerous firecrackers like big trianggulo, super atomic lolo, watusi, piccolo is banned as mandated under Republic Act (RA) 7183 or the Firecracker law.
Around 31,000 firefighters nationwide under the BFP’s “Oplan Paalala: Iwas Paputok’’ are deployed in strategic areas to inform the public against the use of illegal fireworks and to immediately respond to emergency cases.
“Huwag mag-atubiling tumawag sa Hotline 911 sa kahit na anong emergency (Do not hesitate to call Hotline 911 for any emergency cases),’’ the BFP continued.
On the other hand, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that BFP will coordinate and assist the local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in ensuring that designated firecracker exhibition zones comply with the provisions of RA No. 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The DILG also directed the PNP to activate its holiday security plan, boost police visibility in high-traffic areas such as malls, churches, and transport terminals, and conduct inspections and confiscations of illegal firecrackers.