President Duterte offers compromise to firecracker manufacturers
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President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the
Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core
members at the Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on January 4,
2021. ALBERTO ALCAIN/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, January 4, offered a compromise to local firecracker manufacturers that he said will hold off the imposition of a complete national ban on firecracker use intended to protect public safety.
“I'll
only allow firecrackers and everything to be done by government. And it would
be the mayor himself and the chief of police who should do this,” President
Duterte said in a public address.
“Iyang
fireworks sa community para makita ng mga tao with all the safe distances,
lahat na, social distancing doon sa pulbura, sa putukan.”
Mayors,
with the help of the police, should see to it that all safety protocols are in
place to prevent accidents, he noted, adding that he wants Filipinos to safely
enjoy New Year celebrations and at the same time keep the livelihood of those
engaged in fireworks and firecracker manufacturing business.
But
the President also warned firecracker
manufacturers that they should not sell their products to private individuals.
“So
kayong mga taga-Bocaue ganito, kung ang local governments para New Year lang,
ipagbili na lang ninyo sa lahat ng local government units. Marami ‘yan, kikita
kayo kasi bibili lahat. But sell it only to the police,” he said.
“Wala
na magpabili sa private ano. Gobyerno na lang at gobyerno lang ang puwedeng
magpaputok. That is my... Para hindi kayo mawalaan ng hanapbuhay. You don’t
lose the business,” he added.
After
President Duterte's announcement for a
nationwide ban on firecracker use, local officials and firecracker
manufacturers from Bulacan called on the President to defer the implementation
of the prohibition, arguing producers still need to recoup their losses from
weak sales as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
During
this year’s holiday celebrations, Metro Manila mayors banned the sale and use
of firecrackers as part of health protocol to reduce the spread of coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) during festivities.
They
also want to prevent firecracker-related injuries and even deaths during the
New Year revelries.
The
Department of Health (DOH) has reported an 85-percent decrease in
firework-related injuries this year. No firework ingestion or deaths were
reported.
This
year, Davao City marked its 17th year of zero firecracker-related incident
since the 2002 implementation of a firework ban in the President’s home city,
according to data from the Davao City Police Office. PND
