Sotto files bill seeking total firecracker ban
MANILA, Philippines - Senator Vicente Sotto III has filed a bill that seeks to impose a total ban on firecrackers during the New Year revelry.
â€To prevent this yearly mishap, total ban on the use of firecrackers is necessary,†Sotto cites in Senate Bill 2081.
The senator said the bill seeks to have a New Year celebration "without risk of injury or death."
Hundreds of Filipinos, mostly children, are injured due to firecracker. A number of victims also die due to stray bullets fired by irresponsible gun owners during the New Year revelry.
The Department of Health recorded a total of 914 firework-related injuries during the last New Year revelry.
Sotto also cited the Philippine National Police's report of 28 injuries caused by stray bullets.
Under the proposed measure, a violator would be fined ranging from P10,000 up to P50,000 and can be given up to six months imprisonment.
Sotto's colleague at the Senate, Miriam Defensor Santiago, has re-riled a similar bill early this month.
Santiago's Senate Bill 1876 proposes a fine of P50,000 fine and imprisonment of up to one year for violators of the total firecracker ban.
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