In a bid to discourage residents from lighting firecrackers to welcome 2013, Quezon City will be hosting for the first time a New Year’s countdown that will be capped by a 25-minute fireworks display.
While local officials have not imposed a ban on the use of pyrotechnic materials, they hope that residents will avoid doing so and just join the Dec. 31 revelry at Quezon Memorial Circle’s Liwasang Aurora.
Mayor Herbert Bautista’s chief of staff Aldrin Cuña told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the city was in full support of the health department’s “Iwas Paputok” campaign and hoped that the New Year countdown would dissuade people from buying fireworks.
When asked if any resident caught lighting a firecracker would be arrested, Cuña remarked: “Our jails will only be crammed full of people.”
To drive home the point that it is more fun to watch a colorful fireworks display with the added attraction of top musical artists performing live, the city government has tapped the services of the group which is in charge of putting on the regular pyrotechnic musical shows at SM Mall of Asia.
The group is anticipated to pull off a 25-minute fireworks display to cap a countdown to 2013 concert featuring the country’s top bands which will start at 5 p.m.
Participating artists will include Gloc 9, Shamrock, the Divas Club, Anti-Gravity band, Kissy Babes, B-Boys and Runway: Earth, Wind and Fire.
To enable some 10,000 people to take part in the revelry, several giant projectors will be set up around the venue.
Security measures have also been set up for the event and personnel from the Department of Public Order and Safety have been tapped to ensure the smooth flow of traffic for the New Year’s Eve festivities.