Bulacan (CNN Philippines) — To Filipinos, welcoming the new year with firecrackers and pyrotechnics drives away negativity and bad luck.
But this tradition may soon come to an end if President Rodrigo Duterte would have his way and implement a nationwide firecracker ban by next year.
The Department of Health (DOH) is drafting an executive order prohibiting the individual and residential use of firecrackers.
Local manufacturers told CNN Philippines, the proposal is already hurting their business.
Honey Dinglasan, a firecrackers store owner in Bocaue, Bulacan, said sales usually pick up before Christmas but not this year. Sales have dropped by more than 50 percent, she said.
The Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association estimates the industry to be worth P1 billion to P1.5 billion annually.
A nationwide ban against firecrackers could also affect up to 400,000 workers in Bulacan alone. These include workers in related sectors like makers of paper, sticks, and chemicals.
The group’s chairman emeritus Celso Cruz said the planned total ban is unfair. He insisted their products are safe and follow government standards.
He said piccolo — a banned, imported firecracker — is the no.1 cause of injuries, and not local firecrackers.
“Bawal yun and yet ginagamit at nabibli….Dahil nandyan na yung batas, improve na lang regulation,” Cruz stressed.
[Translation: That’s illegal yet it’s being used and bought. Since the law is there, let’s improve regulation.]
The group also proposes stiffer penalties, which currently impose a P20,000-P30,000 fine and up to one year imprisonment.
DOH drafting order for nationwide ban
The DOH assures stakeholders it will consult all sectors that could be affected by the nationwide ban.
In its draft executive order, it requires local governments to designate a safe area for a community fireworks display. A safety officer will also be assigned and trained by the Bureau of Fire Protection to supervise this.
DOH Spokesperson Eric Tayag acknowledged the local sector’s concerns.
“May logic naman sila when they say, we’re not even producing piccolo pero kami ang affected. This executive order will be carefully written and once it’s out nandun naman paano ang implementation,” he said.
[Translation: There’s logic in what they’re saying that they’ve affected and yet they are not the producers of piccolo. The executive order will be carefully written and it will state how it will be implemented.]
For advocacy group EcoWaste Coalition, a total ban on firecrackers and pyrotechnics should be in place.
Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste national coordinator, said the use of firecrackers violate several laws like the Clean Air Act and even animal welfare laws.
“These firecrackers are made of heavy metals para umilaw, kuminang. Aside from nitrate na pulbura talaga, may magnesium, lead. After New Year makikita mo ang itim ng kalye, ang dumi ng hangin and zero-visibility. Sobrang liit kasi ng particles which may cause asthma, hypertension,” she explained.
[Translation: These firecrackers are made of heavy metals to light up. Aside from nitrate, they contain magnesium and lead. So after the New Year celebrations, the streets are smeared with soot, the air is polluted, and there’s zero visibility. The particles can also cause asthma, hypertension.]
Lucero also suggested the money spent for firecrackers should instead be donated to victims of typhoon Nina and other charitable causes.
