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Friday, March 29, 2024

New Year’s Eve ‘crackers ban mulled

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President Rodrigo Duterte said he was considering a possible firecrackers ban on Dec. 31 to avoid further accidents involving children.

“I can utilize a national law to stop the selling. What I want is there will be no accidents or those who will have cuts or [be] blinded,” Duterte told Palace reporters in a chance interview on Monday.

“A lot of children every year would lose an eyesight, two fingers blown away. Fire. Like that,” he added.

But he recognized that the use of firecrackers would depend on local governments since it was not yet illegal.

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In 2017, Duterte signed Executive Order 28 limiting the use of firecrackers in the country.

The executive order confined the use of the pyrotechnics to “community fireworks” and was credited by the Department of Health for reducing the number of fireworks-related injuries during New Year’s Eve.

In 2018, for example, the government reported a 77 percent decrease in fireworks-related injuries compared to the five-year average. 

Duterte also previously said he wanted Congress to pass a law banning fireworks and pyrotechnics.

Last October 2018, the President ordered the Philippine National Police to crack down on the illegal sale and manufacturing of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices. 

He also ordered that no new licenses or permits for the firecracker industry be issued until those with such documents are reviewed for compliance to laws.

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