Nancy Binay : Welcome new year with street parties, not with firecrackers

MANILA, Philippines — As New Year’s Day draws near, Senator Nancy Binay has urged local government units, particularly barangays, to just organize activities like KTV (karaoke television) or street parties for all to avoid firecracker-related injuries.

“Baka pwedeng magpa-KTV na lang si mayor, o ‘di kaya magpa-street party. Hindi naman kailangang magarbo. Hindi rin kailangang sagot lahat. Uso naman sa atin ang potluck at pitch in sa mga gastusin,” Binay said in a statement on Sunday.

“As a parent, mas magandang maging creative tayo sa pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon. I welcome limiting the use of firecrackers para na rin maprotektahan natin ang mga bata,” she added.

Binay said she has filed in the last two Congresses a bill to “reduce the number of injuries sustained by children by prohibiting the selling, giving, or in any way sharing of firecrackers.”

Senate Bill No. 367 proposes a penalty of imprisonment between six months and up to six years or a fine from P50,000 to P250,000.00, or both, at the discretion of the court for “any person caught selling, giving, or any way share any type of fireworks or firecrackers to children 15 years old and below.”

The Philippine National Police should exhaust all efforts to significantly reduce the number of fireworks-related injuries this year, Binay said.

Fireworks-related injuries have been on the decline from 633 cases in 2016 to 463 cases last year, according to the Department of Health.  /muf