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Wednesday, December 31, 2003
Editorial: These deadly devices
SINCE the early ’60s when local pyrotechnic firms started manufacturing high-powered firecrackers, police and health authorities started campaigning against the use of what were then known as Bawang and Demonyo, the more deadly paputok during the era. These two firecrackers were an improvement of the triangulo, a stronger version of the Chinese-made labentador.
It was these improvements that caused injuries to a lot of people, particularly the young, which jolted health authorities most specially in the Metro Manila area and in major cities around the country. Weeks before the Holiday Season, victims of explosive blasts due to firecrackers swamped hospitals and kept medical staff busy. Injured individuals squirming in pain hogged the front pages of newspapers. These, too, were common radio and television fares.
The early ’60s started a trend in the manufacturing of the “killer ‘crackers”, which, to this era, became a scourge to both the young and the old. The fad, too, made police authorities the butt of blame as government officials moved for the banning of the production of “oversized” and “high-powered” firecrackers.
Today, more than 40 years after, the manufacture of giant firecrackers has persisted. Factories in Bulacan, whether legitimate or colorum, mushroomed. Civil, military and police authorities, it now seems apparent, are helpless in stopping what has now turned out a very lucrative business.
In Tuesday’s report, it was said that the police are closely monitoring the activities of at least 236 fireworks manufacturers and dealers in Bulacan. But any cursory look at our major thoroughfares in any Central Luzon town would reveal that such “monitoring” has remained nothing but monitoring. Try buying any of those super lolos, pla-plas and thunders and you’d know that these are just some of the deadly firecrackers one can find in the open. These are just some of those materials which can cause permanent disability to anyone — user or spectator.
Monitoring is not the answer to this growing problem. There should be a concerted move by everyone to stop the proliferation of high-powered firecrackers.
For as long as police authorities do not make any positive move to curve the sale of these deadly devices, disability and death will continue to stalk our people on the streets and backyards.
(December 31, 2003 issue)
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