EDITORIAL - ‘Iwas Paputok’

As of yesterday, the Department of Health had recorded 130 injuries caused by firecrackers since Dec. 21, with about 70 recorded on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day alone. The DOH has released photos showing bloodied fingers mangled by firecracker blasts. It has also displayed to the public the scary surgical instruments used to treat mangled body parts or amputate limbs.

The DOH campaign has been going on for several years, resulting in a gradual reduction in firecracker-related injuries, but also a drop in the earnings of the pyrotechnics industry.

Pyrotechnics makers have warned that their industry can collapse, leading to job losses for thousands. To improve regulation of the industry and enforcement of safety standards, they are seeking amendments to Republic Act 7183. Passed in 1992, the law regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of pyrotechnics.

Local manufacturers say that about 6,000 members of their industry from all over the country have attended seminars on compliance with RA 7183 conducted by the Philippine National Police. The industry players say they are complying with the law but they account for only about 20 percent of the goods sold in the market. They say about 50 percent of the pyrotechnics sold here are imported goods masquerading as local products, while the rest are manufactured illegally.

Their problems can be balanced with the need to promote safe holiday revelry. The industry has been saved by those who can’t let go of the tradition of greeting the New Year with the loudest bang and most spectacular fireworks. Efforts to promote common fireworks areas in community centers, public parks or shopping malls have been resisted by those who don’t relish the idea of spending New Year’s Eve away from home.

Tradition can be reconciled with safe revelry. Safe products, with clear instructions on proper handling, can help the pyrotechnics industry survive. The safest way to welcome the New Year, of course, is by using noisemakers that do not contain explosive materials or tetanus-causing animal manure. There are all types of party horns in the market that can create deafening noise. A Filipino has developed an electric firecracker that can be reused and does not aggravate air pollution.

Firecrackers can cause permanent injuries and have occasionally caused deaths. Even minor injuries from small firecrackers can lead to tetanus, which can also be lethal if not treated early. There’s no reason to risk injuries if there are safe alternatives to greet the New Year.