Palace asks firecracker industry workers to look for alternative livelihood

Malacañang on Tuesday urged firecracker industry workers to look for alternative livelihood opportunities after President Rodrigo Duterte announced his plan to impose a total ban on firecrackers next year.

Speaking at a news conference, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque took the President’s statement on Monday as an advance notice to the workers.

“Gaya ng sinabi kagabi ng Presidente, kinakailangan alalahanin din ‘yung mga tao na nakasalalay sa paggagawa ng paputok bilang hanapbuhay,” he said.

“So kumbaga binigyan na ng warning ng Presidente [na] humanap na kayo ng ibang hanapbuhay dahil sa susunod na taon magkakaroon na tayo ng absolute firecracker ban.”

The government has been discouraging Filipinos from lighting firecrackers to welcome the New Year due to the risks these materials pose to public health.

It was not the first time that Duterte broached the idea of banning the use of firecrackers.

In January 2019, the President said he would issue an executive order to end the use of firecrackers.

Two years ago, Duterte ordered the suspension of processing of new licenses and permits for the manufacture, sale, and distribution of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

He also directed the confiscation and destruction of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices as well as firecrackers used outside community fireworks displays.—AOL, GMA News