MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Friday said it was waiting for the Department of Health’s (DOH) formal recommendation on banning firecrackers in the country as the count for New Year-related injuries continues to rise.
“Hihintayin po ‘yung rekomendasyon ng DOH at tatalakayin po ito kapag naihain na nila ito,” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in an interview.
(We’ll await the recommendation of the DOH and we’ll discuss it when it has already been formally proposed.)
He said there was also a need to study the proposal vis-a-vis existing laws regulating firecrackers.
“At dahil ang patakaran ay inihahain at tinatalakay at pinagpapasyahan sa Kongreso, hihintayin natin ang magiging panukala ng mga mamababatas at handa namang makipagtulungan ang ehekutibo sa kanila sa pagbubuo ng isang mainam, katanggap-tanggap at epektibong batas,” he explained.
(And because proposed bills are tackled and approved by Congress, we will wait for the proposal of lawmakers. The Executive is ready to work with them in crafting an acceptable and effective law on firecrackers.)
Coloma said that while the number of people injured due to fireworks has decreased compared to last year, injuries caused by illegal and dangerous fireworks are still high.
Nevertheless, he said the reduced number of casualties is a positive outcome.
The DOH said that as of Friday morning, it has recorded 593 cases of fireworks-related injuries as opposed to the 986 cases in the same period last year.
Coloma called on the public to cooperate and support the government campaign against illegal firecrackers like piccolo, which often causes phosphorus poisoning among children.
“Kapag nagtulong-tulong at nagpatupad ng disiplina siguro malaki ang maibabawas, kung hindi man mapigil na ang mga pangyayaring hindi kanais-nais,” he said.
(If we work together and enforce discipline, perhaps we will be able to substantially reduce or stop untoward events from happening.)
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