Baguio City bans firecracker sales

Firecrackers and pyrotechnics will not be sold in Baguio City for the New Year celebrations there, after the city mayor decided against issuing special permits to sell such items, state-run Philippines News Agency reported Saturday.

 

A report by the PNA said Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan reached the decision for "health, safety and environmental reasons."

 

Instead, he said, only public fireworks displays will be allowed in designated areas and will be closely monitored by the Bureau of Fire Protection to ensure safety.

 

The mayor was also quoted in the PNA report as stressing "the tradition of using firecrackers as a way of greeting the New Year needs to be reformed.”

 

Last year, Domogan similarly denied the request of firecracker distributors for special permits to sell their wares.

 

The PNA cited data from the Department of Health Cordillera showing firecracker-related injuries fell by 27 percent in the same period last year. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News