Banned ’crackers flooding Central Luzon

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The area north of Metro Manila is fast becoming the country’s powder keg, with assorted fireworks and firecrackers flooding stores in Bulacan and Central Luzon, police said yesterday.

Some P30 million worth of Chinese-made pyrotechnics previously impounded by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have now found their way to Bulacan stores, while prohibited powerful firecrackers are now being openly sold in Central Luzon, they said.

Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Calinisan said he has directed the Bulacan police to confiscate the pyrotechnics reportedly imported from China, stressing that the selling of imported firecrackers is banned under Section 6 of Republic Act 183, or the Firecrackers Law of 1992.

The explosive contraband was reportedly among those seized by Customs authorities last year and were supposed to remain impounded in the BOC warehouse.

But legitimate fireworks manufacturers in Bulacan claimed that a bigtime fireworks dealer had "maneuvered" for the release of the imported products which made their way to various outlets in the province.

Local fireworks manufacturers said that the availability of Chinese pyrotechnics products would provide stiff competition to locally made fireworks and lead to heavy losses to the grassroots industry which relies heavily on the demand during the holidays.

At the same time, Calinisan also ordered police officials in all Central Luzon provinces to seize powerful firecrackers which are also banned by the law.

These firecrackers include such oversized ones as the pla-pla, og, lolo thunder, superlolo, baby dynamite, atomic, and super bawang.

Many of these prohibited products are openly sold in makeshift stalls which have mushroomed along highways and downtown areas in Central Luzon, with appropriate labels identifying them as among the powerful firecrackers.

Calinisan also said he has ordered his men to go after unlicensed manufacturers and dealers of firecrackers and fireworks, warning that their products could be dangerous.