Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Tuesday urged local government units to pass ordinances that will ban firecracker use and individual fireworks displays in their localities.

"Ako ay nananawagan na sana ay magkaroon ng lokal na ordinansa [banning fireworks display in communities]. Anyway kaya namang i-celebrate ang Bagong Taon nang maayos [kahit walang paputok]," Abalos said.

His call came during the Lab 4 All: Christmas for All gift-giving activity at the Jose Fabella Center in Mandaluyong City.

Abalos instead pushed for supervised fireworks displays in common spaces like municipal town halls and other designated areas.

He added that the said measure can help decrease fireworks-related accidents and untoward incidents during the holiday season.

It can be recalled that in 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 28, banning fireworks in households or places of residence nationwide, stressing only community fireworks displays supervised by licensed individuals are allowed.

Abalos urged LGUs to replicate the same measure which is still being implemented by other local governments such as Davao City and Quezon City.

The objective of the ban is to minimize firecracker-related injuries in the coming New Year's Eve celebration.

"Nananawagan ako sana ang mga LGU, magpasa ng firecracker ban gaya ng ginawa ng Davao at Quezon City," he stressed.

He continued: "Ibig sabihin 'yung mga pumuputok. Kasi nakita naman natin 'yung mga daliri napuputol, i-ban na natin totally 'yun".

During this year's New Year revelries, the Department of Health tallied 211 injuries related to fireworks, which were 30 percent lower than the five-year average of 300.