Regulate firecracker use, health chief urges LGUs
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will continue to designate a firecracker zone at the South Road Properties and vows to do what the city can on regulating the use of firecrackers during the holidays. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
PB exec heeds call; other city, town officials open to health chief’s request
The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) is set to push for the regulation of firecracker use in the province during the coming holidays, following the request of Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial to local government units (LGUs) to enforce the regulation of firecracker.
PB Member Christopher Baricuatro, who heads the committee on health, said they could help regulate the use of firecrackers in the province through legislation.
“I will pass a resolution as soon as possible supporting Secretary Ubial’s position,” he told Cebu Daily News in a text message.
The PB will hold its regular session on Monday, but since items on the agenda to be discussed during that day have already been finalized, Baricuatro will have to file the resolution under “other matters.”
Ubial’s call also received favorable response from some LGU officials such as Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot and Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, who are both open to Ubial’s request to regulate the use of firecrackers in their locality.
Ubial at VSMMC
Ubial was in Cebu City on Saturday to attend the inauguration of the new heart center of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
There, she told reporters that she was for President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to implement a total ban on firecrackers.
Baricuatro, for his part, said that a total ban would be difficult to implement this year as this would require an aggressive campaign and that they are very much pressed with time.
“Probably next year,” he said.
Ban set for next year
President Duterte also decided to implement his plan in 2017 after he realized that a total ban on firecrackers nationwide was already too late because manufacturers had already bought raw materials and had already produced and made the firecrackers.
“An (proposed) executive order, which contained the regulated use of firecrackers, has been submitted to the President (Rodrigo Duterte). Apparently, many have sent letters from the industry that it is too late. I think the President considered that and maybe it (executive order) will be implemented next year,” Ubial said.
But even if there would be no executive order, the DOH would continue its advocacy to prevent people from harm from firecrackers especially at the LGU level.
“For us, it is always our advocacy to any life and injury. If it is preventable, it’s worth investing in and it’s worth campaigning for,” Ubial added.
Other countries
The regulation of firecrackers is happening in other countries, but in the case of Philippines, firecrackers have been considered as a household commodity.
“In other countries, only trained people are allowed to use firecrackers. We want to ensure the safety and well-being of the people. No children and no one under the influence of alcohol will use firecrackers,” Ubial added.
As posted on DOH website, firecrackers have suspended particulate matters that can cause throat-, nose- and eye-related problems. This can lead to headaches and reduced mental acuity.
Pregnant women, children and those having a chronic asthma are the most vulnerable while those who have heart, respiratory or nervous system disorders are also at risk.
Ubial also admitted that they could not go after those establishments selling illegal firecrackers since it is not part of their mandate but the jurisdiction of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).
BFP reaction
For BFP Regional Director Samuel Tadeo, the bureau only issues permit once a permit from PNP is also given to the establishment.
“So far, no reported establishments here are selling illegally. My instructions to our fire marshalls is to monitor the establishments under their jurisdictions,” Tadeo told Cebu Daily News.
Once there are monitored illegal selling of firecrackers, they will coordinate with PNP for operation and proper action.
Tadeo said he is also in favor of regulating the use of firecrackers and designating a specific area where it is away from houses to prevent fire incidents.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, meanwhile, said firecracker use in Cebu City this year will still be confined to the South Road Properties (SRP), just like in previous years.
However, during those times, this measure wasn’t strictly implemented as some still used firecrackers outside the designated area.
Asked how the city government can ensure that this will be fully enforced this time, the mayor said he could not give an assurance.
“I cannot ensure, but we will do what we can,” Osmeña told CDN in a phone interview.
Last year, more than 20 firecracker vendors from the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu sold their products at a designated spot within the SRP.
The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) required these vendors to sell their fireworks at uniform prices and to prioritize safety.
In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Paz Radaza said she plans to meet with local fireworks manufacturers to remind them to do away with making firecrackers.
“I’ve been telling them since last year to focus more on pyrotechnics instead. Thankfully, the supply of firecrackers has minimized,” she said.
She said that since Duterte won, they already expected he would impose on the whole country the ban on firecrackers he implemented in Davao City where he served as mayor for 20 years.
Radaza said fireworks manufacturers and vendors, located in Barangay Babag, are slowly adjusting.
“They’ve been making less firecrackers and more of those elaborate fireworks now, ever since the reported accidents in the past,” she added.
The mayor said barangay officials and local police have been tasked to monitor the manufacturing and sale of these items.
She also urged the public to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s without using firecrackers, if possible, for safety.
In Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu, Mayor Vicente Loot said he is in favor of regulating the use of firecrackers instead of a total ban.
“Regulate it so as not to displace workers,” Loot told Cebu Daily News in a text message last night.
For Loot, there has to be a designated area in every town supervised by the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP).
“Finding one (designated area) is not a problem. We have a lot of space. But at the moment, in the absence of the order, we will follow existing rules and regulations,” Loot said.
Just like Loot, Tuburan town Mayor Democrito Diamante said he is also in favor of regulating the use of firecrackers.
“Yes, I am in favor of regulating the use of firecracker in order to balance the trade and health,” Diamante told Cebu Daily News.
Medellin Mayor Joven Mondigo Jr. is in favor to totally ban firecrackers, but in the meantime, it is better to regulate to give time for the government to provide alternative livelihood to affected workers.
“Besides, there are many other ways to make the celebration more festive,” Mondigo added./With Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza
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