According to initial figures from the department and the police, three were killed and 354 were injured during the New Year revelry.
The DOH said it wants to ask President Aquino to prioritize the passage of a bill imposing a total ban on the use of firecrackers in the country.
The Aquino administration said it is ready to work with Congress in coming up with a law that will effectively address problems posed by the use of firecrackers, especially during New Year celebrations.
Herminio Coloma, a government spokesman, said the DOH’s proposal must be thoroughly studied because there are laws that regulate the use of firecrackers.
“At dahil ang patakaran ay inihahain at tinatalakay at pinagpapasyahan sa Kongreso, hihintayin natin ang magiging panukala ng mga mamababatas at handa namang makipagtulungan ang ehekutibo sa kanila sa pagbubuo ng isang mainam, katanggap-tanggap at epektibong batas,” Coloma said.
“Sinasabi lang natin sa ngayon ay kinakailangan ang pag-uugnayan at ang masusing pag-aaral para maiwasan na o mapigil na ‘yung mga bilang na nasasaktan at napipinsala dahil sa mga bawal na paputok.” he added.
He said the current thrust of the government is to make New Year celebrations safe. He said the people’s cooperation and discipline are necessary to avoid injuries.
“The people, the local and national governments must work together to make communities safe during New Year celebrations,” he said.
Coloma also explained that simply proposing a total ban would not solve the problem unless the people and the government work together.
“Madaling sabihin ‘yung ‘total ban’ o ‘yung titigil na, pero sa tunay na paggawa ay kinakailangan pa rin ang sama-samang pagkilos at ang disiplina ng mga mamamayan para sumunod sa batas,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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