DOH supports law on nationwide firecracker ban

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is supportive of a law that will ban firecrackers as the implementation of the executive order (EO) prohibiting their use has been hampered due to concerns about its impact on jobs and livelihood.

DOH Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo said a legislation would be a "better tool" to ensure less firecracker-related injuries and damage during New Year.

"It's either we push through with that EO or we propose a law that will more or less achieve what we intend to achieve, meaning less injury, less damage," Bayugo said in a press briefing yesterday in Malacañan. 

"Legislation will be a better tool to really enforce things that we would like to happen. But for the meantime, since legislation will take much time, much longer time, we believe that an Executive Order could have been a faster way of making our New Year's safer for the Filipinos," he added.

Bayugo is hopeful that the EO or the law banning firecrackers would be implemented by next year. He said the DOH has drafted the EO banning individual use of firecrackers and encouraging community fireworks display. 

"Injuries caused by that (community fireworks display) are rare," the health official said.

"We have prepared that Executive Order but it seems there are some adjustments that we need to do," Bayugo said.

Firecracker industry to be hit

The health official admitted though that the implementation of the ban, which could result in losses for the firecracker industry, has been delayed.

"It seems that they (firecracker sellers) lobbied for it to be delayed for now. But still we are advocating to the local governments if they can set up community fireworks display and request or appeal to the community not to use fireworks individually," Bayugo said.

He noted that a firecracker ban has been enforced for several years in Davao City, the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"In Davao, it was implemented for so many years because the industry can have other market to go to but when it's a nationwide ban, it's another thing, it's a different thing," Bayugo said.

"There would be industries, and laborers that may be affected by this move. So, I think that the President was wise enough to consider that even if he is a very strong advocate of a total ban," he added.

Asked whether an EO on the firecracker ban no longer has chances of being implemented this year, Bayugo said: "We have not seen any signed EO yet… That's not for me to say, of course, we will just wait if there would be an EO that will be coming out."

"The preparation for the year, the production, everything, even the investment, happened even earlier. And just disrupting an industry like that, it will not be a good sign also, in terms of your concern for your people," he added.

Bayugo said the DOH has so far received 70 fireworks-related incidents, lower than the 124 recorded in the same period last year. Of the 70 incidents, one involved fireworks ingestion while the rest are blast injuries.

He said half of the blast injuries happened in Metro Manila and were caused by illegal fireworks like piccolo and boga. One of the injured individuals underwent amputation.

Bayugo said they have been launching information campaigns to inform students about the dangers of using firecrackers.

"We made use of the school children, elementary and high school, talking to them, telling them about what they should be doing," he said. 

"I hope that somewhat also help send them the message that children should tell their parents not to engage in this dangerous celebration of New Year.