For the children’s sake

FOR many, it would be hard to imagine a New Year’s Eve celebration without the bursting noise of firecrackers and the spectacle of pyrotechnics. But wouldn’t it be nice to imagine a New Year’s Day morning where there are no children wounded, their hands or fingers amputated even, from accidents arising from these explosives?

This year, 34 people, mostly children, have again been rushed to the hospital due to revelry-related injuries. Who would say that is a happy way of welcoming and beginning a new year? To the credit of the Department of Health, frontlined in Pangasinan by the Region 1 Medical Center, an intensive information campaign was carried out with the “Iwas Paputok” program. But it obviously still fell on many deaf ears.

Perhaps it is too drastic a suggestion to call for a total ban on fireworks within the province, or within cities or municipalities. The tradition is much too deeply-rooted and it is likely that authorities would not have the resources, or political will to start with, to implement such a ban and stop the repeated new year damages to limb. Just for cause, it has been done for many years now in Davao City. A bill to ban the use of firecrackers will soon be filed in the House, but even if that proves successful in becoming a law, it would still take time and will to be fully realized.

There are other options such as assigning fireworks areas within barangays and penalizing – wouldn’t it be such a fitting punishment to make the violators spend the New Year in jail – those who will not comply. We must note that many of the children injured this year were those who naively picked up what they thought to be “dead” explosives lying in the streets only to be surprised by a sudden burst in their hand. The annual ‘Balon Kaaguan’ fireworks event in Barangay Pogo Grande in Dagupan would be a good template for setting up a common area where everyone can still enjoy the noise – safely.

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Trial by publicity

THE impeachment proceeding against Chief Justice Renato Corona has yet to begin at the Senate. But the inquisition might as well have already started given all the trial by publicity that is taking place between the prosecutors and the defense.

It is a disservice to the people and to the justice system as provided by law.

The country desperately needs to pursue good governance, but grandstanding is not the way to end corruption.

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