By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte said he will ban the sale and use of firecrackers in the next few days as it does nothing good for the public, particularly to the children.
President Rodrigo Duterte (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a speech in Maguindanao Monday evening, Duterte said he will ban firecrackers because they cause injury to people, citing the labintador as an example.
“Ngayong, in the coming days, yung labintador, kagaya doon sa Davao City, ipagbawal ko na. Wala tayong nakuha sa mga anak natin (Now in the coming days, just like the labintador in Davao City, I will now ban them. We get nothing good for our children),” he said.
“Ilan sa mga anak natin mabulag, mawalaan ng kamay, lumilipad yung... for what? Babayad ka pa para sisirain mo lang ang anak mo (How many of children should go blind, lose a hand... for what? You spend money just to ruin your kid)?” he added.
Duterte said people should just celebrate the New Year quietly by eating together and then turning into bed afterwards. He also raised the possibility of gun attacks being perceived as sounds of firecrackers.
“Kapareho sa Davao, tahimik. Magkain ka tapos matulog. Bakit ka sige magpaputok-paputok diyan (Just like in Davao, we celebrate quietly. We just eat and then go to sleep. Why do you need to use firecrackers)?” he said.
“Hindi mo malaman kala mo labintador lang, yun pala inaatake na ang isang istasyon (You never know, you think it was just a labintador but what's really happening is a station is under attack),” he added.
In June, 2017, President Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 28 which provides for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Under the EO, the use of firecrackers will be confined to community fireworks display to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties. The community fireworks display is conducted under the supervision of a trained person duly licensed by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
A community fireworks display is also allowed by the municipality or city concerned through a permit specifying the date and tame of the display and the specific area where it will be conducted, in conformity with national standards, rules, and regulations.
Pyrotechnic devices other than firecrackers may be used outside community fireworks displays subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.