CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — A total of 101 firecracker zones and 87 fireworks display areas have been established in Central Luzon as of Saturday (December 23) afternoon, the regional police office reported.

The numbers may increase as the New Year celebration approaches.

Last year, the Central Luzon Police has monitored a total of 225 firecracker zones and 88 fireworks display zones established in the region’s seven provinces two days before the New Year celebration.

These include the 16 firecracker zones in Aurora; Bataan eight; Bulacan 51; Nueva Ecija 31; Pampanga 22; Tarlac 60 and Zambales 37 while the fireworks display zones established in the province of Aurora were four; Bataan six; Bulacan 21; Nueva Ecija 28; Pampanga 11; Tarlac eight; Zambales eight and Angeles City two.

Based on Executive Order 28 issued by former President Rodrigo Duterte on June 20, 2017, local government units were tasked to designate community fireworks display areas.

The order provides for the regulation and control on the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

Recently, fireworks stakeholders were appealing to Interior and Local Government Sec. Benhur Abalos not to implement the proposed nationwide ban on firecrackers.

The fireworks stakeholders pointed out that the main cause of accidents in the industry are the proliferations of illegal manufacturers and entry of smuggled imported pyrotechnics device products that are inferior in quality compared to products produced and sold by legitimate fireworks manufacturers and dealers.

Legitimate fireworks dealers and manufacturers comply with the standards set by the Department of Trade’s Bureau of Product Standards while illegal manufacturers and dealers have products that have inferior qualities and are seen as the main culprit in accidental explosions that cause injuries and sometimes deaths among fireworks enthusiasts.