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THE NEW Year usually turns
the whole country into a sort of a war zone—explosions, smoke and general
gunpowder odor takes center stage in a celebration welcoming the New Year. As
such, injuries—and worse, fatalities—often become the result of a rowdy
revelry.
This New Year, the Dept. of
Health reports a lower number of firecracker victims. As of Jan. 2, 2015, the
figures are 593; 580 of which happened from Dec. 31, 2014 to Jan. 2, 2015.
This, the DOH said, was almost 400 cases lower than last year’s revelry; last
year the DOH recorded 986.
But as DOH acting Sec.
Jannette Garin earlier said, it would have been better if firecrackers have not
been used in ushering the New Year.
It is a source of amazement
for foreigners why most Filipinos would risk life and limb by handling
firecrackers and fireworks by themselves to welcome the New Year. In more
developed countries, professionals are hired to stage firecracker and fireworks
display. Not only would this ensure a beautiful display, it also keeps everyone
safe.
Laws have been created that
ban powerful as well as highly toxic firecrackers. However as in most laws in
the country, the firecracker law is either seen as a simple suggestion or
ignored altogether. The banned firecrackers still appear on the streets and law
enforcers as well as other security forces do nothing to either confiscate
these illegal materials or stop people from igniting them.
The dangers posed by
firecrackers multiplies exponentially when authorities basically allow anyone
to explode firecrackers anywhere. Even if people with enough sense not to touch
firecrackers during New Year celebrations are exposed to danger by this fact as
they may end up being victimized by those who ignite and throw firecrackers in
every direction away from them.
Here in Laoag City, the local
government has specified a firecracker sale zone; however it stopped short of
designating a firecracker explosion zone to ensure safety of
residents—especially those who are not firecracker-crazy. Or if there was a
designated zone, it has been largely ignored by both the authorities and the
revelers.
The health hazard posed by
explosions everywhere is already dangerous in itself; add to this the air and
noise pollution created by exploding firecrackers and the act may no longer be
about warding evil spirits or bad luck but simply ignorant and risky acts that
go overboard.
Six
cities in the country—Muntinlupa City, Baguio City, Olongapo City, Davao City,
Kidapawan City, Zamboanga City—have banned
the use of firecrackers. If our local officials are reluctant to follow their
example, the least they could do would be to designate a firecracker zone or
mount a fireworks display to usher in the New Year.
Not only would this become
safer for everyone but more so another attraction for tourists to welcome the
New Year here.
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