Marikina City gov’t bans firecrackers, cancels yearly concert

MANILA, Philippines — Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro on Thursday ordered a ban on the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices this holiday season to ensure the safety of residents amid the pandemic.

Teodoro also announced that Marikina’s annual community-based fireworks display and concert will not push through this year as this constitutes mass gathering, posing a threat for transmission of coronavirus among residents and spectators.

Every year, the local government conducts a community-based fireworks display and concert to prevent the use of firecrackers and prevent firecracker-related injuries.

The local government however issued an executive order in compliance with the government’s directive to ban the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of firecrackers. The Marikina City Council will also pass an ordinance next week, which will impose fines and penalties for violators.

“I have issued an Executive Order prohibiting the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in Marikina this New Year. This is to prevent the mass gathering of people and ensure the safety of our constituents,” Teodoro said.

“Our primordial concern is the health and safety of the public, we do not want them to get infected with coronavirus which has already claimed lives,” he added.

He noted that holding community fireworks displays and concerts will not only be a health risk among residents, but it is also a violation of the minimum health protocols imposed in the country due to COVID-19.

“Ngayon, iyong mga community- based fireworks display, dini-disallow muna natin kasi it constitutes mass gathering, so iyong health protocols dapat mai-maintain natin para sa ikabubuti ng lahat,” Mayor Marcy said.

(We will disallow the community-based fireworks display for now since it constitutes a mass gathering. We should maintain health protocols for the safety of everyone.)

“May IATF guidelines for that pero, more importantly, para sa Marikina is the safety of our constituent against COVID-19 aside from the accidents that might happen from the use of unregulated firecrackers,” he added.

(There is an existing IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) for that, but for Marikina, it is for the safety of our constituent against COVID-19 aside from the accidents that might happen from the use of unregulated firecrackers.)

As of December 22, the Marikina Public Information Office (PIO) reported that there are 168 active cases of COVID-19 in the city. Meanwhile, there are a total of 3,397 patients who recovered while 86 individuals succumbed to the virus.

Still, Teodoro expressed optimism for the upcoming year. According to him, 2021 will be a year of  “healing, rehabilitation, and recovery” for the city which he said, “has been through a lot this year.”

“We are looking forward to 2021 as a year of new beginnings and a year of hope for the people of Marikina. Sama-sama, tulong-tulong, babangon ang Marikina!”

(We are looking forward to 2021 as a year of new beginnings and a year of hope for the people of Marikina. Together, Marikina will rise.)

On Wednesday, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), which consists of 17 local governments, decided to ban firecrackers to avoid the risks of firecracker-related injuries and avert mass gatherings during the pandemic.

EDV