Rowdy Revelry

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.