SHOULD the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos, Urdaneta and Alaminos continue to risk the loss of lives, fingers, eyesight and limbs of their constituents for the sake of providing livelihood to vendors and maintain the traditional revelry with blasting noise to welcome the New Year?

It may sound politically correct not to resort to a total ban of firecrackers and simply introduce stricter regulations with listing of hazardous types that should be banned. But this has been the situation for over the last five decades, and every year of regulated sale of fireworks still always ended up with regrettable consequences to families – a son, a father, losing one eye, three fingers; a daughter seeing her hair catch fire, etc.

Both Davao City (DC) and Quezon City (QC) have already proven that a total ban is the way to go. Their ban not only helped achieve zero injuries but definitely enabled their families to sleep soundly after the revelry knowing that none of their family members, neighbors, relatives and friends were injured the night before.

To effect a total ban, our four cities need not reinvent the wheel. Lifting from the QC’s Ordinance 2618 and DC’s Ordinance 060-02, here are the essential provisions:

1. Prohibiting the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession, or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices “or such other similar devices within the territory of Davao City,” not only during Christmas or New Year but in the celebration of the Chinese New Year and the Muslims’ Eid’l Fitr (end of Ramadhan).
2. It shall be unlawful for any person to use or play with firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices anywhere in the city.
3. A P5,000 bounty for anyone who could pinpoint anyone firing a gun during the merrymaking.
4. It shall be the duty of barangay chairmen, assisted by POSO and police, to strictly enforce the ordinance.
5. No permits will be issued to manufacture, distribute and sell firecrackers and pyrotechnics in the city.
6. Penalties range from fine of P1,000 or imprisonment of 20 to 30 days, or both; second offenders with a fine of P3,000 or imprisonment of from one to three months or both; and third offenders, a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of from three to six months, or both.

It’s time for our city governments to give lives of their constituents more importance than livelihood of vendors and manufacturers and keeping a hazardous tradition.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments