Bacalzo said he had asked the regional directors to instruct their chiefs of police to hold dialogues with local chief executives for the creation of firecracker zones where local residents would be allowed to use pyrotechnic materials.

“If we cannot implement total firecracker ban, having a firecracker zone would be a good measure. Maybe our chiefs of police should talk with the mayors on this,” said Bacalzo.

“This will be a good measure to prevent accidents like firecracker-re-lated injuries and even fire accidents as a result of the use of firecrackers,” he added.

What Bacalzo is pushing is to replicate the policy in some areas like Davao City where a certain area is being designated as the only place where residents could use firecracker and other pyrotechnic materials to greet 2011.

But the official was quick to clarify that only the pyrotechnic not banned by local laws will be allowed to be used in the designated firecracker zones.

Based on his proposal, Bacalzo said policemen and personnel from the Department of Health (DoH) and the Bureau of Fire Protection would be stationed in the designated firecracker zones for any untoward incident that may occur.

“There had been positive results on this strategy as observed in the past as reduction in the number of people being hurt is being noted,” said Bacalzo.

So far, Bacalzo said they have been continuously coordinating with the DoH for the conduct of information drive concentrating on either discouraging the use of firecrackers or their safe use.

For his part, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., PNP spokesman, said they have strengthened its partnership with other government agencies to control the influx of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials which are expected to flood stores and even on streets as the New Year’s revelry approaches.

“We are strictly implementing some measures that will control the proliferation of substandard firecrackers, we know the danger that illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials pose that’s why we are active in conducting operations in connection with this,” said Cruz.

Aside from the DoH which Cruz described to be active, along with the PNP, in running after illegal and substandard firecrackers, he said they have also joined forces with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The role of the DTI, he said, is to check on the quality of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials that are being allowed to be sold.

One of the measures currently being implemented by the PNP, Cruz said, is the regular inspection on firecracker factories, particularly in Bulacan which is tagged as the firecracker capital of the country, being the top producer and main source of the materials.

As to those being smuggled, Cruz said they will be coordinating with the Bureau of Customs in order to intensify the monitoring of those legally and illegally being imported from other countries like China.

Aaron Recuenco, Manila Bulletin