SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez is supporting proposals to impose a total ban on firecrackers nationwide in light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s desire to put an end to injuries, especially on children, during New Year’s Eve revelry.
“It is high time we ban firecrackers [nationwide] to minimize injuries and loss of lives,” Alvarez told a news conference Wednesday.
Alvarez said that Congress had been reviewing proposals to impose a ban on firecrackers, saying a huge amount of government funds had been allotted for the medical management due to firecracker injuries.
Alvarez said a nationwide ban on firecrackers would allow all Filipinos to celebrate safely Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Alvarez, representative of Davao del Norte, said the firecracker ban in Davao City—President Duterte’s hometown—had proven effective.
In 2002, Duterte who served as mayor for more than 22 years, signed an ordinance prohibiting the production, possession, sale or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnics.
While he acknowledges the fact that the death of firecracker industry will mean loss of jobs to many firecracker workers, Alvarez said Congress was also concerned about the huge public funds earmarked for firecracker victims.
He said the funding allotted for the purpose should be spent instead for other basic social services.
“We also need to look at the aspect as to how much public funds are spent by the government to treat firecracker victims,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez stressed Congress would also coordinate with local government units on the feasibility of banning firecrackers nationwide.
Malacañang earlier said it was drafting an executive order on the nationwide firecracker ban.
Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said the Palace had been working on an EO on the firecracker ban.
“The concerned agencies will look into the proposal to regulate pyrotechnics to mitigate the possible loss of jobs and enable traditional celebration of festivities,” Andanar said.
“I’d like to put on notice everybody that I am seriously considering making the entire Philippines like Davao (firecrackers-free). We observe the Christmas time with solemnity,” Duterte earlier said.