BAGUIO CITY December 28 – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan made a last ditch appeal to residents in the city to refrain from using firecrackers and pyrotechnics but to use other modes of creating noise for better luck in 2017.
The local chief executive revealed the campaign of the local government against the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics has been successful based on the Christmas eve activities wherein only a few residents used these to welcome the birth of Christ.
“We want to appeal to our constituents to sustain the success of our campaign against the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials for the Yuletide revelry to avoid potential life-threatening injuries. We call on our people to instead use alternative modes of creating noise to help drive away the evil spirits for better luck in 2017,” Domogan stressed.
He added the zero firecracker-related injuries in the city even after Christmas indicates the cooperation of residents to the local government’s campaign for a safe and peaceful revelry.
According to him, the firm decision of city officials in not issuing permits to firecracker and pyrotechnic material vendors even without the required legislation translated to the benefit of residents as there were no firecracker-related incidents recorded in the city since the reckoning period imposed by the health department on December 21.
With the successful turnout of the local government’s campaign, Domogan is keeping his fingers crossed that the local legislative body will pass the needed legislation to ban and regulate the sale and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic materials in the city to achieve zero firecracker-related injuries in the city.
Domogan also expressed his gratitude to the firecracker and pyrotechnic vendors for accepting the decision of the local government in not granting them permits to sell these materials in the city over the past three years, saying that the primordial interest of city officials is to ensure the safety of residents.
Domogan said the local government is ready to help the displaced firecracker and pyrotechnic vendors find alternative business ventures that will not pose a serious threat to the safety of the people.**By Dexter A. See
