Officials remind anew against “lantaka” use

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City police is reminding the public anew not to use “lantaka” to avoid accidents during the New Year celebration. 

Talisay City Police chief Reycel Carmelo Dayon said they will be going around to confiscate lantaka, an improvised canon usually made of attached PVC pipes or empty milk cans forming a long hallow pipe used by the locals during Christmas and New Year to create loud sounds. It uses denatured alcohol that explodes when lighted.

“Ang kawayan, di bawal, ang PVC maoy bawal labi na kung naay bala. This is only for disciplinary actions para malikay ang mga tawo sa disgrasya,” said Dayon in an interview.

The police chief said some lantaka users even put stones inside the lantaka which makes it even more dangerous.

In 2009, a six-year-old boy in Barangay Tangke died after his own lantaka exploded on his face when it accidentally went off while he was checking it. This prompted the City Council to propose an ordinance banning the use of the homemade canons. The proposal, however, did not prosper into a law.

Meanwhile, while lantaka’s popularity is increasing among adults and children, the use of fireworks is reportedly declining, said Dayon.

“Wa kaayo’y namaligya pabuto. Ang mga tawo na-educate na, kay siguro expensive man. Dako kaayog kausaban,” he said.

Last Christmas the police arrested only one firecracker vendor who was selling his products in a non-designated area in the city. For the past years, the city has designated Lagtang Gym, an area far from residential communities, as the only area where firecrackers can be sold.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health, in a text advisory, reminded the public that all hospitals are ready to treat firework-related injuries but urged the people not to use firecrackers at all. (FREEMAN)