DOH's Herbosa: Letting kids buy, use firecrackers like child abuse

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Tuesday called for legislation that would block and protect children from using firecrackers, noting that Filipino minors are often the victims of related injuries during holiday revelry.

During a press conference Tuesday at Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC) in Marikina City, Herbosa expressed belief that exposing children to firecracker hazards may be considered child abuse.

This is especially true, Herbosa said, if parents themselves provide money to purchase firecrackers.

"Hindi ba parang child abuse 'yan pagka hinahayaan mo 'yung bata, lalo na kung nanay o tatay 'yung nagbigay ng pera, para bilhin 'yung paputok? 'Yung paputok, 'yung binigay mong pera, tapos binigay mo sa bata, tapos na-injure 'yung bata… Baka dapat mag-focus sa child abuse," he said.

(Isn't it like child abuse if you allow a child, especially if the mother or father provided the money, to buy firecrackers? If you provide the money and give firecrackers to the child and the child gets injured… Maybe we should focus on child abuse.)

"Nagsasawa na ko, every year naman bata lagi ang nabibiktima eh (I'm getting tired of this. Every year the victims are always children). We should protect our children. Children should not handle fireworks," he added.

Laws needed

Herbosa said he was willing to back any legislator who would pass laws banning children from firecracker use.

In 2019 under the 18th Congress, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian proposed Senate Bill 724, which proposed the ban of sale, distribution, and use of firecrackers in the country.

Similar bills were proposed such as Senate Bill 493 of Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Senate Bill 517 of Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, and Senate Bill 906 of former senator Nancy Binay, all of which targeted either bans or regulation efforts for firecrackers.

The said bills sought to improve the existing Republic Act 7183, which currently regulates the pyrotechnic industry in the Philippines.

Tradition vs. safety

The Health secretary acknowledged that it would be impossible to implement a total ban due to sociocultural sensitivities, thus regulation efforts should be pushed instead.

Herbosa noted that in other countries, only licensed professionals were allowed to handle fireworks and firecrackers.

"It has been part of our traditions, to the fact na ganiyan na talaga nagwe-welcome [ng New Year]. Kung we create a law, susunod ba ang mga tao? It's very important that we try to create a change. Eventually, lalakas na din 'yung plano for regulating," he said.

(It has been part of our traditions, to the fact that it really is how we welcome [the New Year]. If we create a law, will the people follow? It's very important that we try to create a change. Eventually, the plan for regulating it will get stronger.)

"Pilipinas lang naman nag-umpisa na kahit sinong ordinary [na tao] puwedeng magpaputok nu'ng ni-legalize natin ito… Sa ibang bansa, 'pag humahawak ng gunpowder o explosives, kailangan may lisensya ka parang sa firearms. Dapat nga, 'yung nagha-handle ng any gunpowder, dapat may lisensya 'yun. Dapat something like that, i-license na natin sila. 'Yung nagbebenta, i-license. Kung na-handle, i-license," he added.

(The Philippines was the first to allow ordinary [citizens] to use firecrackers when it was legalized here… In other countries, you must have a license to handle gunpowder or explosives like you would with firearms. You must have a license to handle any gunpowder. Something like that must be licensed. License the sellers. If they are handling it, license them.)

Parents' example

Aside from government policies, Herbosa called on parents to teach their children not to handle fireworks for their own safety.

In their latest advisory on Tuesday morning, DOH shared that 95 out of the 140 current Fireworks-Related Injuries (FWRI) cases in the country were patients aged 19 years old and below.

The Health Department has repeatedly called on the youth to curb "bad practices," including the use of firecrackers, as part of its Ligtas Christmas 2025 campaign.  

Hospitals across the country have been placed under Code White for the Holidays in anticipation of a potential surge on injuries, including FWRIs. — VDV, GMA Integrated News