ILOILO City – It’s being hotly debated right now if it is high time to push for a total ban on firecrackers. Is Western Visayas receptive to this possibility?
Recently, Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Benhur Abalos urged local government units (LGUs) to pass ordinances that would ban firecracker use and individual fireworks displays in their localities.
“I appeal to all [local governments] to follow what Davao City and Quezon City did by implementing a firecracker ban. We have seen how they injured a number of our kababayans, especially kids,” Abalos said.
In Western Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH) advocates for hosting community fireworks instead.
Dr. Fritzi Ann Suzette Jeroso-Dequito, head of the Health Promotion Unit of DOH-6, said there is no clear directive so far from their central office to campaign for the total ban on firecrackers.
“We have had a specific go signal to advocate for the community fireworks display instead of buying individual firecrackers, fireworks, or pyrotechnics,” said Jeroso-Dequito.
But, in organizing community fireworks, they must be professionally managed, put in a safe place, have a safe distance from the community or viewers, have a permit, and have standby personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).
DOH-6 also appreciates LGUs that organize community fireworks displays during New Year celebrations.
Jeroso-Dequito explained that there are many benefits from this, including a longer viewing time, fewer risks of injury, and the public could save on expenses.
“Instead nga mabakal sila sang palupok, ibakal na lang sang handa, less ang gasto, and safe man sila or layo sa aksidente,” said Jeroso-Dequito.
DOH is only worried about the smoke during community fireworks displays that people inhale, which can trigger asthma and allergic rhinitis.
From Dec. 21 to 28, the region logged 34 fireworks-related injuries, of which four were from sentinel hospitals and 30 were from non-sentinel hospitals.
Most of the injuries were eye, burn or blast injuries with no amputation.
The cases of fireworks ingestion and stray bullet injuries were at zero.
Defensor Supports Abalos’ Proposal
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo province expressed his support for Secretary Abalos’ proposal to pass ordinances that will ban firecracker use and individual fireworks displays in their localities.
During his term as a representative of the province’s 3rd District, Defensor filed a bill entitled “Firecracker Development Law,” which intends to regulate the use of firecrackers, especially their accessibility to children and persons under intoxicating liquor, as they are often the patients of firecracker-related injuries.
“Ngaa gin-obra ko ang bill ko sang una? Kay kon tan-awon kada New Year, ano ang headline? Is it the fireworks? No, the emergency room. Can you imagine? Ano ang balita nga ginapangita naton kon New Year? Emergency room, it’s not really a celebration,” Defensor said.
He explained that if fireworks and firecrackers are regulated, the money spent by the government on health facilities will be reduced, and at the same time, the burden of health facilities will be reduced every December.
The governor also agrees with the idea of organizing community fireworks headed by LGUs for their constituents.
But he admitted that it will be difficult to implement because each household has its way of celebrating the holiday season, with some preferring to stay at home instead.
“Ako ay nananawagan na sana ay magkaroon ng lokal na ordinansa [banning fireworks display in communities]. Anyway, kaya namang i-celebrate ang Bagong Taon nang maayos [kahit walang paputok],” Abalos said.
He added that the said measure can help decrease fireworks-related accidents and untoward incidents during the holiday season.
In 2017, then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 28, banning fireworks in households or places of residence nationwide, stressing only community fireworks displays supervised by licensed individuals are allowed.
Abalos urged LGUs to replicate the same measure, which is still being implemented by other local governments such as Davao City and Quezon City.
The objective of the ban is to minimize firecracker-related injuries in the coming New Year’s Eve celebration.
“Nananawagan ako sana ang mga LGU magpasa ng firecracker ban gaya ng ginawa ng Davao at Quezon City,” he stressed.
He continued: “Ibig sabihin ‘yung mga pumuputok. Kasi nakita naman natin ‘yung mga daliri napuputol, i-ban na natin totally ‘yun.”
During this year’s New Year revelries, the DOH tallied 211 injuries related to fireworks, which were 30 percent lower than the five-year average of 300./PN
