The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has once more recorded zero firecracker-related incidents, even during the New Year revelry.
Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum, the DCPO director, said none of the 12 police stations in the city recorded any violation of the fireracker ban, which started in 2001.
Tagum said the city government and the DCPO’s massive campaign against the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics paid off once more.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa lahat ng residente ng Davao City sa kanilang cooperation at support sa ban on firecrackers ng City Government of Davao,” he said.
Aside from the information drive, the DCPO together with the Task Force Davao and Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) conducted round the clock mobile and foot patrol in residential areas in the city to ensure that there will be no violation of the firecracker ban.
PSSCC Operation head Angel Sumagaysay said that the zero casualty can be attributed to the cooperation and willingness of Dabawenyos to follow the law.
“The people of Davao adhere to the ordinance and the zero incident only showed that people are law abiding citizens,” Sumagaysay said.
Earlier, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte appealed to the Dabawenyos not to burn their money by buying firecrackers, and instead use their money to buy food for their media noche.
It was in 2001 when then mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte, through an executive order, outlawed the sale and use of firecrackers in the city over the rising number of firecracker-related incidents.
In 2002, the Sangguniang Panlungsod finally passed the firecracker ban.
The ban did not stop residents from merry-making during the holidays by banging pots and pans, and also blowing torotots (blow horns).
The ban even spawned the annual Torotot Festival. CIO
