The government is planning to regulate the manufacture and sale of pyrotechnics to mitigate the loss of jobs instead of imposing a nationwide ban on the use of firecrackers, Malacañang said Friday.
“A revised EO on the firecracker ban will be submitted. The concerned agencies will look into the proposal to regulate pyrotechnics to mitigate the possible loss of jobs and at the same time enable traditional celebration of festivities,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.
The President said he will consult members of his Cabinet and let them decide on a possible ban on firecrackers.
“I am going to have the Cabinet meeting. I need the Cabinet to decide. It will be a Cabinet decision,” Duterte said in a speech.
Duterte had earlier tasked the Health department to draft the executive order that would limit the use and possession of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices in the Philippines.
Under the initial proposal, the government will be limiting the use of firecrackers, pyrotechnics, and fireworks to trained professionals.
The Health department is also advocating for a controlled and supervised display and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics for implementation in the whole country.
Duterte enforced a successful fireworks ban when he was still mayor of Davao City, and has promised to replicate the policy nationwide.