Baguio City will be less noisier this year during the holiday season after the city council implemented a total ban on the sale of firecrackers.
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| A policeman confiscates high powered pyrotechnics from a street vendor. |
Mayor Mauricio Domogan, citing the statistics of injuries related to firecrackers and its ill effects on the environment, pushed city residents here to unite in support of the total firecrackers ban.
“We should learn that calamities which earlier struck the country are due to climate change; effects from our own doings to nature. Thus, we should tone down on carbon emissions, and that include uncontained firecracker smoke from holiday celebrations,” he said.
Domogan cited Davao City which has strict laws on the use of pyrotechnics.
Though selling of firecrackers in the city’s business establishments will be banned, the fireworks displays on Dec. 1, 24 and 31 are part of the month-long Golden Christmas in Baguio celebrations, where dealers could participate through bidding.
A firecracker ban was supposed to be implemented as early as 2011, but vendors appealed the ban. The ban was deferred to this year.
Domogan said, this time there will be no more extension.
Residents here though will not be banned from popping out pyrotechnics bought from vendors outside the city.--Source: Phistar