Espinoza: I prefer total ban

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

EVERY Christmas and New Year, we are greeted with reports of injury, death and damage to property caused by firecrackers or fireworks. It’s the same cycle of profligacy.

Pardon me for the language, but some Filipinos do fit the description of “hard headed.” Despite the injuries caused by prohibited firecrackers during the Christmas celebration, many still did not learn their lesson during the New Year revelry.

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Even the pleas of President Noynoy Aquino in his New Year’s message for people not to light firecrackers to greet the New Year fell on deaf ears.

Health officials reported that a 10-year old boy died and 739 were injured from firecracker-related accidents. The figure, I suppose, will increase when reports from other regions reach the Department of Health in Manila.

After Christmas and New Year, when reports of injuries caused by firecrackers surfaced, government and health officials appeared worried although they could have said “mirisi” (you deserve it) to the victims also.

Republic Act 7183, the law on firecrackers, was approved on Jan. 30, 1992. It listed the types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices allowed to be manufactured.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the law. The PNP is also authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to regulate and control the manufacture, sale and importation of firecrackers.

In short, the PNP monitors the manufacturers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics. But why are the police unable to the implement this law? Or if they did, have not done enough?

This begs the question of whether cops are on the take from the manufacturers or not.

Not all Filipinos like the big bang of firecrackers but many love fireworks. Many of us were influenced by the Chinese tradition to make noise on New Year to drive away evil and misfortune. The problem is that some of us carried the belief to extreme.

In developed countries, individuals are prohibited from possessing, much less lighting up firecrackers. Davao City has banned the sale of firecrackers and it works.

Davao City entertains the city’s Christmas and New Year revelers with its own fireworks display, just like what other big cities in developed countries do. Davao City should be emulated by other local government units.

A bill introduced by Sen. Manny Villar seeking to amend RA 7183 for stricter regulation on the manufacture and sale of firecrackers has been pending in the Senate committee on public order since August 2010. This makes us suspect that lobby money from firecracker manufacturers stalled the passage of Villar’s bill.

Villar proposed a fine of from P500,000 to P1 million and imprisonment of from six years to 12 year against companies making banned firecrackers and vendors who sell them. They will also have their stocks confiscated and their business licenses revoked.

Villar’s bill may deter violators but not prevent individuals from buying firecrackers and lighting them up anytime anywhere. I would go for total ban on the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics to individual persons.

Call me kill joy, but I would rather have a silent night during these celebrations than to have goose bumps when firecrackers are lit beside you or under your car.

Congress should pass a law that bans the sale of firecrackers to individuals. Only the LGUs, in collaboration with private entities, should be allowed to display fireworks in designated places during Christmas and New Year.

(elespinoza53@yahoo.com)