Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — An environmental watchdog wants the government to declare an “all-out war” against smugglers, distributors, and vendors of the banned piccolo firecracker to prevent injuries to children.
Despite the prohibition, the piccolo remains the top culprit behind firecracker-related injuries this 2016. Out of the 380 injuries recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) as of 6 a.m. on Friday (Janunary 1), more than half or 219 were piccolo victims.
Data from the Health department from 2013 to 2015 also showed that the piccolo caused the most number of injuries involving fireworks:
2015: 840 fireworks injuries, 32 percent due to piccolo
2014: 997 fireworks injuries, 376 or 38 percent due to piccolo
2013: 904 fireworks injuries, 236 or 26 percent due to piccolo
“An all-out war against smugglers, distributors and sellers of piccolo will stop this small but terrible monster in further harming more child victims,” Aileen Lucero, coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, said in a statement on Saturday (January 2).
It urged the government to not wait until December 2016 to implement the crackdown, and provide a a reward system to encourage the identification and apprehension of those involved in the illegal trade of banned firecrackers.
EcoWaste is a civil society partner of the DOH in its “Iwas Paputok” campaign. In earlier statements, it has also tagged the banned firework as “children’s enemy number one” during the holiday season.
Call to ban all firecrackers
The group also called for a national ban on all firecrackers to reduce the number of injuries and lessen the fumes and trash accumulated during the New Year. The call for the ban is spearheaded by Health officials, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, it explained.
It added that enforcing such a ban would be in accordance to environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act (RA 8749), Clean Water Act (RA 9275), and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003).
“We urge our lawmakers to enact a total ban on firecrackers to stop this out-of-date practice of ushering in the New Year with bloodied hands, smoggy atmosphere and garbage-strewn surroundings,” Lucero said.
