Another Silent Christmas Eve in Davao City

Christmas is all about celebrating and having fun with your loved ones. Part of this celebration is having parties, drinks and FIRECRACKERS.

Here in Davao City, any form of firecrackers is banned. Once you have been caught, you will eventually be imprisoned for quite some time. It has been ten years since the implementation of this policy. Because of this ban, it has saved hundreds of people and property. It has also saved civilians from losing their fingers and their eyesight, among others.

The ban is not limited only to Christmas and New Year. Firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices are banned as well in the celebration of the Chinese New Year and the Muslims’ Eid’l Fitr.

Ordinance 060-02 penalizes:

• first offenders with a fine of P1,000 or imprisonment of 20 to 30 days, or both;
• second offenders with a fine of P3,000 or imprisonment of from one to three months or both;
• and third offenders, a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of from three to six months, or both

Davao City is not totally against Christmas celebration. In fact, the city government installed several speakers in the Downtown area specifically in San Pedro Street to play Christmas songs. A Christmas light float parade was also held.

This year is another SILENT NIGHT Christmas Eve in Davao City. I still prefer celebrating the holidays without firecrackers. You will really feel the essence of Christmas in your hearts.

Merry Christmas everyone.

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