Gov’t execs press appeal to ban ’crackers, stop gun firing

As the number of injured merrymakers preparing to welcome 2016 climbed higher, officials pressed their appeal for a ban on firecrackers and the firing of guns to ring in the New Year.

Following the death of a 9-year-old girl struck by a stray bullet in Bulacan province, the Department of Health (DOH) pleaded to gun owners across the country to be sensible in welcoming 2016.

“We strongly condemn the loss of life of an innocent child. This should have not happened if only gun owners were responsible,” Health Secretary Janette Garin said.

Much like the crackle of firecrackers during New Year’s Day, the crusade to ban pyrotechnic products also ramps up in volume during the holidays—and then it dies down.

Ban only seasonal

Dr. Jess Fantone, a DOH epidemiologist who has been pushing for a firecracker ban, lamented that calling for a ban on firecrackers had become seasonal, in the absence of a national law or ordinances banning the manufacture, importation, storage and use of firecrackers.

“The ban is forgotten after the holidays,” Fantone said as the DOH in Central Luzon documented 54 people—mostly boys—hurt while lighting firecrackers from Dec. 21 to 28.

Local governments could take the initiative of passing ordinances banning firecrackers but to date, Fantone said, only the cities of Davao and Olongapo have prohibitions in place.

“It’s a matter of political will,” Fantone said, acknowledging that local officials would have to  go against tradition to make public health and safety top priorities.

First fatality

Garin pleaded with gun owners to refrain from firing their guns, saying there were safer ways to greet the New Year.

Garin’s appeal came after a young girl was fatally hit in the back by a stray bullet while playing near Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan, on Christmas Eve.

The girl was rushed to East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, where she underwent surgery. But she died on Christmas Day.

DOH spokesperson Lyndon Lee Suy said the girl was the first fatality during this year’s festivities. He said the parents did not immediately perceive it was a gunshot wound.

“That’s why we appeal also to parents to seek prompt medical attention if they see small wounds, especially in the head. Because stray bullets have high velocity, they sometimes don’t exit the body,” Lee Suy said.

As of yesterday, 128 firecracker-related accidents and three stray bullet cases have been reported to the DOH since Dec. 21.

So far, Metro Manila has reported the most incidents due to the use of firecrackers.

As in the previous year, Manila, Quezon City and Mandaluyong were the top cities with the most number of firecracker-related accidents.

Piccolo, a banned firecracker, remains the major culprit, accounting for 76 percent of the accidents. Other firecrackers that caused the injuries were five-star, kwitis and the sparklers.

Garin reiterated the use of alternative noisemakers, such as paper horns (torotot), car horns or loud music, to usher in the New Year.

She urged local government units to set up community firework displays to minimize  individual use of firecrackers and fireworks.

To soldiers: Keep your fingers off your gun’s trigger.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines reminded its troops not to fire their guns in welcoming 2016 lest they get booted out of government service.

Also, military personnel and their dependents will not be allowed to use firecrackers in military camps during the festivities.

While the AFP did not seal the guns of its troops with masking tapes, unlike their police counterparts, Col. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said soldiers had been warned against firing guns.

“Military personnel who will be caught illegally discharging their firearms will be immediately dismissed from the service,” he told reporters.

Military offenders also stand to lose their retirement benefits and pension.

The AFP also warned soldiers and their dependents living in camps of a firecracker ban.

Padilla said this was part of their efforts to implement the heightened alert status, with the Philippine National Police taking the lead.

Civilians found bringing firecrackers into military camps will lose the firecrackers and be referred to the police for investigation.

Camp residents will be meted out sanctions “that may cause their stay in the camp,” Padilla said.

Organized fireworks displays will be set up inside camps, like Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, to avoid incidents like fires.

Padilla said pyrotechnic displays in military camps would come after a thanksgiving Mass on New Year’s Eve, which will be open to all camp residents.

Fantone had lost count of the number of years it had taken for government agencies to lobby for an antifirecracker law.

At least 17 firecracker-related injuries were recorded in Pampanga province, 11 in Bulacan, eight each in Tarlac and Zambales provinces, seven in Bataan province and three in Nueva Ecija province.

These cases represent a 68-percent reduction compared to the injuries recorded for the same period in 2014. Most victims were hurt when they ignited the piccolo. Reports from Tonette Orejas and Ron Lopez, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Johanne Margarette Macob, Inquirer Northern Luzon