FILE PHOTO: President Bongbong Marcos in Quezon City on December 1, 2022.
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged local government units (LGUs) to designate a common area for the fireworks display to reduce firecracker injuries.
He said that instead of allowing the public to have their own firecrackers, LGUs should hold a fireworks display.
“I will enjoin the LGUs, instead of allowing our people to have their own firecrackers, gumawa na lang kayo ng magandang fireworks display para sa inyong mga constituent,” he said.
(I will enjoin the LGUs that instead of allowing our people to have their firecrackers, just set up a fireworks display for their constituents.)
The President warned Filipinos about the dangers and health effects of firecrackers, particularly those that result from reckless and indiscriminate use of dangerous ones.
“Huwag muna tayong magpaputok at alam naman natin kung minsan delikado ‘yan. Lalo ngayon at maglalabas sila ng mga paputok na hindi natin alam kung saan galing, kung maayos ang pagkagawa,” he said.
(Let’s not use firecrackers anymore because we know it’s dangerous. Especially now that we don’t know where they are from or if they are manufactured well.)
The Department of Health (DOH) noted a downward trend in firecracker-related injuries in the country, citing figures in recent years.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said 122 cases were recorded in 2020, while 128 were reported last year.
The Philippine National Police, for its part, has ramped up efforts to conduct cyber patrol, confiscation, and destruction of banned firecrackers and pyrotechnics to protect the public.