CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga, –The intensified drive for safe revelry for the Christmas and New Year through ‘Oplan Iwas Paputok’ resulted in zero firecracker and stray bullet injury in the province.
Police Provincial Director P/SSupt. Romeo Mangwag clarified that the earlier reported firecracker injury in the municipality of Rizal was negative.
Under the Oplan, the police here conducted strict checkpoint operations to assure no transport and sale of prohibited firecrackers.
Mangwag claimed that the “pattong’ by the Kalinga police also contributed to the remarkable result of ‘Oplan Iwas Paputok’ in the province.
Showing the people an alternative way of celebrating new year rather than with firecrackers which are harmful, the Kalinga police under then Provincial Director P/SSupt Alfredo Dangani, started a tradition to revel the New Year the ‘Kalinga way’ by playing gongs or ‘pattong’ around public places like markets.
Meanwhile, Provincial Health Officer Ignacio Cawas Jr said health personnel had a 24/7 watch at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital from December 24-January 1 but no firecracker victim was brought there for treatment.
‘This is the good result of our sustained campaign on Iwas Paputok; at least our people now had learned,’ Cawas noted.
Last year, the province recorded three injuries from firecrackers. **JDP/LL-PIA CAR, Kalinga
