As the country celebrates New Year’s Eve, Metro Manila police chief, Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. admitted that the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) won’t be able to track everything during the celebration, including the country’s observance to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health protocols.
“We really have to admit na di natin kayang bantayan lahat… eto po kasing social distancing ay isang taon na nating iniimplement, sana po eh isipin natin na di lang social distancing ang binabantayan ng kapulisan, kasama rin po dyan ang anti-criminality, anti-terrorism,” Danao, acting director of NCRPO, said during an interview with radio station DZBB.
“Kami po ay nakikiusap sa lahat, please cooperate. ‘Yun man lang magkaroon tayo ng self-imposed discipline laong lalo na following the Covid health protocols, napakalaking tulong na ‘yan,” he added.
Earlier, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of 17 mayors in Metro Manila, imposed a ban on firecrackers to prevent possible firecracker-related injuries. The ban also aimed to avoid mass gathering due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Violators of the said ban will be fined and arrested, according to MC chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.
Danao, instead,advised the public to spend their money for food instead of firecrackers.
“I would encourage each and everyone…unang-una pandemic po ngayon, bakit po bibili kayo [ng paputok] mamaya magrereklamo tayo wala tayong pangkain.
[Firecrackers are] very hazardous to our health…ibili na lang natin ng pagkain,” Danao said.
“We would advise that instead of having the usual paputok eh siguro po ay magkalembang na lang tayo ng kaldero o lata,” Danao added. RJ Espartinez