Photo by Ace Sapit/ PIA Mimaropa
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he would only allow community fireworks displays starting this year so as to protect Filipinos from firecracker-related injuries.
Duterte earlier also floated his plan to ban fireworks nationwide in 2021, just like what he did in Davao when he was mayor.
But during a televised address on Monday, Duterte said he would “compromise” and allow community fireworks.
“Ngayon, ganito na lang, so as not to deprive the Bocaue residents of their livelihood, I will only allow — kung maaabutan pa ako ng Pasko ulit — I’ll only allow firecrackers and everything to be done by government,” the president said.
“And it would be the mayor himself and the chief of police who should do this. Iyang fireworks sa community para makita ng mga tao with all the safe distances, lahat na, social distancing doon sa pulbura, sa putukan,” he added.
Duterte said residents of Bocaue, the fireworks capital of the Philippines, could earn profits by selling fireworks in bulk to local government units.
However, Duterte asserted that he would not permit selling fireworks to private individuals and corporations.
“Gobyerno na lang at gobyerno lang ang puwedeng magpaputok. That is my [directive] para hindi kayo mawalaan ng hanapbuhay, you don’t lose the business,” he said.
“So continue with this paputok… So iyon ang ano ko, that is my cents. And kayong mga taga-Bocaue, kontakin (contact) na ninyo ‘yung lahat ng mga local governments ngayon. Kayo ang mag-supply,” he added. John Ezekiel J. Hirro