BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan lauded the city’s achievement of its zero-firecracker-induced-injury target for the 2018 Christmas and 2019 New Year revelry.
“”We are happy that the city’s effort to prevent the selling of these firecrackers bore fruit and we achieved our target of zero casualty this year and of course we credit this also to the public for their cooperation to our program,” the mayor said.
The mayor said there were those who attempted to circumvent the city’s campaign and attempted to sell some of the prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices underground but said attempt was successfully thwarted by police authorities.
He expressed hope that with the positive outcome, the city council can finally approve an ordinance adopting a total ban on the sale and use of these devices in the city.
“It has been our clamor for many years now and with this achievement now, I hope that the city council will now realize the value of totally banning the sale and use of these firecrackers,” he said.
Dr. Donabelle Tubera of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the City Health Services Office reported that not a single firecracker-related injury was recorded in the city during the Christmas and New Year revelry.
The Baguio City Police Office under Police Chief Sr. Supt. Eliseo Tanding also announced a zero case of indiscriminate firing during said period.
The city has an ordinance banning the sale and use of certain firecrackers but the mayor had hoped that a total ban on the sale, distribution and manufacture of all such devices will be adopted to ensure safe celebrations.
The city government mounted its own community fireworks display at the Melvin Jones, Burnham Park last Dec. 31 in compliance with the directive of the national government for local governments to authorize a centralized area for fireworks display to minimize risk of injuries and casualties during the merrymaking. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
