MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fire Protection eyeing proposals to ban the use of sky lanterns, which its official branded as "very dangerous."
"The Bureau of Fire Protection is discouraging the use of sky lanterns because it is very dangerous," said Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna, head of the BFP - National Capital Region, in an interview over dzMM radio.
Laguna said that there are no existing ordinances or laws that regulate the manufacturing and distribution of sky lanterns in the country.
"The Bureau of Fire Protection is proposing its prohibition," Laguna added.
There were initial reports that a sky lantern caused the fire that killed seven people in Quezon City on Christmas Day, which Laguna belied.
He said that according to their initial investigation, the use of a "jumper" and the overloading of electricity were the most possible causes of the fire that sparked along Agustin Street, Barangay Bungad in Quezon City.
Meanwhile, Santiago said that the BFP has intensified its monitoring efforts around Metro Manila to avoid another tragedy on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, where majority of firecracker-related incidents, are recorded.
As of the Department of Health's last count, a total of 107 people have been reported injured by firecrackers and ane one more due to a stray bullets from December 21 to December 21.