Firecracker ban: DOH launches shame campaign

MANILA, Philippines - With the signing of the executive order on a firecracker ban put on hold for next year, the Department of Health (DOH) has resorted to a “shame campaign” to encourage local government units (LGUs) to prohibit the household use of firecrackers.

In a press briefing, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said without the EO, the agency is now relying heavily on the LGUs to minimize firecracker-related injuries and deaths in the coming New Year revelry.

“This is a shame campaign,” Ubial said. “On Jan. 5, we will be coming up with statistics or a list of LGUs with the most number of firecracker-related injuries. We will identify those that will not help us. We hope the LGUs will heed our call.”

Ubial said she would consult President Duterte on what should be done to LGUs on the shame campaign list.

“I am calling on all LGUs, the local chief executives, to do your part in this campaign to prevent injuries among our children and our people. We will lose a big chunk of our budget for healthcare because of this useless cause of injuries,” Ubial announced.

Since it seems too late to implement the EO this year, Ubial urged LGUs to launch their respective ordinances to thwart the use of firecrackers among households this Yuletide.

Earlier, the DOH had submitted a draft EO to the President, proposing the ban on the use of fireworks at home. Malacañang, however, deemed it too late to sign and implement the measure this year as most manufacturers had started making firecrackers.