Palace appeals to public: Don’t buy firecrackers

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is appealing to the public to refrain from buying and using firecrackers and consider other ways to celebrate the New Year as the number of revelers injured in firecracker blasts soared to 73 on Christmas Day.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte cited over dzRB yesterday the Department of Health (DOH)’s report showing the number of firecracker injuries decreased from the same period last year and expressed hope the downtrend would continue.

Valte said parents must take care of their children, especially on New Year’s Eve, and make sure they would not get hold of firecrackers.

“Better if we don’t buy. Let us use alternative noisemakers because it is better if we welcome the New Year peacefully and not inside the emergency room of our hospitals,” Valte said.

She said people must be concerned about their health and well-being during holiday gatherings.

President Aquino earlier said he was hoping Filipinos would be able to unite and spend quality time this holiday season.

Valte said the President, just like last Christmas, would be with his family to welcome 2015.

She said the President would lead the Rizal Day celebration on Dec. 30 and she has no information yet if the President would go up to Baguio City to rest.

On Friday, acting Health Secretary Janette Garin said 43 revelers sustained firecracker injuries on Christmas Day, bringing to 73 the total number of cases since Dec. 21 when the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center (NEC) started its Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction 2014 surveillance.

The figure, however, is 89 cases lower than the 162 recorded during the same period last year.

Child victims

The DOH yesterday said two boys five and nine, from Cebu and Manila, respectively, each lost a hand due to firecrackers on Christmas Day.

In a press briefing, DOH Assistant Secretary Gerardo Bayugo said another five-year-old boy from San Mateo, Rizal was poisoned when he ingested luces which he mistook for candy, also on Christmas Day. He was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment.

“This is really saddening for us because the future of these children will surely be affected and this is all because of firecrackers. It should have not happened,” Bayugo said.

DOH director for Health Emergency Management Bureau Cirilo Galindez also called on store owners not to sell firecrackers to children.

Lower but still unacceptable

Garin said the 113 firecrackers and fireworks ingestion cases that have been reported are 50 cases lower than the five-year average from 2009 to 2013 and 86 cases lower than the 199 cases during the same period last year.

But she said this trend is still “unacceptable” for the DOH, “especially in cases where injuries caused permanent consequences.”

“Every life is important. We should not waste it by using firecrackers. Imagine the rest of a child’s life without hands, arms, legs or eyesight due to firecrackers,” she said.

Preemptive raids

For his part, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian urged yesterday the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify its campaign against illegal firecrackers by conducting a crackdown against known manufacturers and sellers of life-threatening firecrackers.

“It is best for the PNP to conduct preemptive raids against illegal firecracker manufacturers so that their life-threatening products will not end up in the streets during the New Year’s Eve revelry,” Gatchalian said.

The lawmaker is pushing for the imposition of tougher regulations on firework products that are being sold nationwide, especially during the Christmas season.

The PNP earlier warned the public against using at least seven illegal firecrackers as its explosive content is beyond what the law provides for. These include piccolo, pop pop, Philippinesor Bading, Yolandaor Napoles, watusi, pla-plaand g kuwitis.

He said these firecrackers, except for watusi, have explosives content of over 0.2 grams, following Republic Act 7183, which guides the fireworks industry.

Only 68 manufacturers, 285 dealers and 2,551 retailers of firecrackers have license from the PNP Firearms and Explosive Office (FEO).

Among the legitimate firecrackers that can be used during the New Year revelry are the baby rocket, bawang, Diablo, Belt, paper caps, pulling of strings, sky rocketor kwitisand the small trianggulo.

Pyrotechnic devices that can be used include butterfly, fountain, jumbo regular, luces, Mabuhay, candle, sparklers, trompillo, devices and pailaw.

In filing House Bill 4434, Gatchalian expressed hope that amending certain provisions in RA 7183 (regulating the sale, manufacture and distribution of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices) would ensure a healthier environment for Filipinos, especially children who are most vulnerable to firecracker-related injuries.

“We endure the pollutants and countless injuries caused by the use of firecrackers every New Year’s Eve. Until when should we endure this cycle of peril to our health and environment?” Gatchalian asked in his bill’s explanatory note.

The proposed Firecracker Regulation Act of 2014 seeks to require fireworks dealers to submit the names and addresses of their affiliates to the PNP-FEO upon securing business permit.

A maximum of P5,000 would be imposed as limit for a single purchase of any firecracker or pyrotechnic device, excluding those with permit from PNP-FEO.

The bill would also prohibit selling fireworks to any person below 18 years old while requiring children who would use firecrackers to be under the strict supervision of their guardians.

Those who fail to secure their dealer’s permit through legal means would be penalized with a fine ranging from P100,000 to P500,000 or imprisonment ranging from six months to three years.

Dealers found guilty of selling fireworks to minors will be fined P100,000 and would have their permit revoked.

Meanwhile, parents found guilty of instigating firework deals of their children will be fined P10,000.

Unlicensed products

In Bulacan, legitimate fireworks manufacturers and dealers are apprehensive of the possible proliferation of unlicensed fireworks products in the market.

Supt. Rodolfo Hernandez, chief of the Sta. Maria Police Station, told The STAR that they have been receiving reports that unlicensed fireworks dealers are about to set up temporary pyrotechnic stalls near legitimate fireworks stores in Sta. Maria and Bocaue, otherwise known as the “Fireworks Capital” of the country.

Hernandez said legitimate manufacturers and dealers are lamenting that they have been religiously paying licenses and permits and are attending safety seminars being conducted by the PNP and the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturing and Dealers Association, Inc. that cost thousands of pesos.

The businessmen added that they are spending additional money to comply with precautionary measures in conducting their businesses while the illegitimate manufacturers and dealers are the ones who do not have safety nets in their operations.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado, on the other hand, blew his top upon learning that officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection did not confiscate the illegal fireworks products that they discovered during fire safety inspection of pyrotechnic stalls in Bocaue yesterday.

Alvarado said he would coordinate with the provincial police director about the matter.

Illegal discharge of firearms

The PNP reported that there have been seven incidents of illegal discharge of firearms from Dec. 16 until 8 a.m. yesterday.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said under the monitoring of Ligtas Paskuhan 2014, the incidents were reported in Ilocos (one incident which left one person injured), Central Luzon (one incident), Region 4A (one incident which left two persons injured), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (one incident which ended in self injury) and Metro Manila (three incidents).

Mayor said five persons were also arrested for illegal firing of guns during this period while police also seized 601 pieces of illegal firecrackers. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Paolo Romero, Ramon Lazaro, Mike Frialde