Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 18) — Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos urged local government units (LGUs) on Monday to issue ordinances banning firecrackers and individual firework displays to minimize related injuries in the coming holiday season.
\”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.
[Translation: I am calling the attention of the local government units to pass ordinances that will ban fireworks displays in communities. Anyway, we can still celebrate New Year’s Eve without the use of firecrackers.]
As part of his requested measure, Abalos said that safer areas such as common spaces like town halls are recommended as the place to shoot firework displays.
He then mentioned following the existing ordinances of Davao and Quezon City, which have already banned the use of firecrackers and fireworks. He added that community fireworks display supervised by licensed individuals should also be implemented in other LGUs.
READ: Davao City ordinances that may be implemented nationwide under a Duterte presidency
Abalos stressed that firework injuries for the past years have increased due to the LGUs failure to regulate firecracker usage.
On Jan. 4 this year, authorities recorded a total of 277 firecracker-related injuries in New Year revelry.
