The Kabankalan City Police Station has started taking decisive action to enhance regulations and monitoring of firecracker sales, prioritizing public safety during the holidays.
Police Captain Joelan Vinson, Deputy Chief of Police of the Kabankalan Component City Police Station, told Brigada News FM Kabankalan on Thursday, December 26, that the police strictly prohibit small stalls, especially those without proper certification, from selling firecrackers.
Only 18 certified firecracker dealers operate in Kabankalan—nine at the Kabankalan New Public Market and another nine in the upper barangays.
“Purchasing firecrackers from uncertified vendors increases the risk of accidents and injuries due to the uncertain amount of gunpowder in these products,” Vinson emphasized.
Prohibited Firecrackers
The authorities remind the public that the following firecrackers are banned under Philippine law due to their potential to cause serious harm:
- Watusi
- Piccolo
- Super Lolo
- Giant Whistle Bomb
- Giant Bawang
- Large Judas Belt
- Atomic Big Triangulo
- Pillbox
- Boga
- Coke-in-Can Firecrackers
- Kabasi
- Other oversized or improperly labeled firecrackers
Although the police have not confiscated any illegal firecrackers in Kabankalan yet, Vinson assured that thy are actively inspecting small stalls and marketplaces.
Vinson urged residents to buy firecrackers only from certified dealers and to report any suspicious activities to the police. He stressed that doing so would help ensure a safe and incident-free holiday celebration for everyone.
Meanwhile, Major General Leo Francisco, Director of the PNP Civil Security Group, has also strongly advised the public to avoid purchasing prohibited items online and urged them to report any sightings of their sale to the authorities.
He emphasized that online platforms, such as Shopee and Lazada, are under strict monitoring to ensure the removal of listings for illegal firecrackers.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.