BFP urges public to observe fire safety tips for hassle-free holidays

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has started its public awareness campaign on firecrackers-related accidents, especially during the Yuletide season.

Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna, BFP- National Capital Region (NCR) director, said the public should observe simple and basic fire safety tips and guidelines for a hassle-free Christmas celebration.

“Pyrotechnics is the leading cause of fire, particularly in welcoming New Year,” said Laguna, who told the public not to use banned firecrackers such as piccolo, superlolo, plapla, goodbye Philippines and watusi.

He enjoined the public to help prevent fireworks-related injuries and deaths by working with a national or local organization to promote a fire-free holiday in the community.

“It is a basic rule to never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, always have an adult supervise fireworks activities,” he said. 

The BFP’s information campaign was in response to the directive of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to inspect all firecracker stores and plants in the country and to ensure that all of them comply with fire safety regulations and avoid accidental fires and explosions.

Laguna has directed district, city and municipal fire marshals to inspect commercial establishments selling banned pyrotechnics in order to ensure the safety of the public.

Pyrotechnics monitoring urged

Meanwhile, Sen. Manny Villar, Senate committee chairman on trade and commerce, said there is a need to improve existing laws that will protect consumers against the dangers of fireworks and pyrotechnics such as fire, injury and loss of lives, especially during the Christmas season.

The committee conducted a hearing yesterday to determine the measures being undertaken by government agencies to ensure the safety of pyrotechnics and Christmas lights sold in the market.

During the hearing, fire officials said the number of incidents increased in recent years due to pyrotechnics and firecrackers.

C/Supt. Carlitos Romero, director for Plans & Standards of the BFP, said that in 2010, 50 fire incidents were caused by fireworks and pyrotechnics, and it increased by 13.6 percent this year.

“Judging from the rising number of fatalities, fires and injuries, I don’t think we can say that we have high standards in the manufacturing and use of fireworks,” Villar said.

He added that safety instructions on the use of firecrackers should be clearly seen on the product labels, including how far away a person should be when lighting a firecracker.

Mario Gaudiano of the Bureau of Products and Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry revealed that more smuggled fireworks are flooding the market now, in violation of Republic Act 7183, or the act regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

Villar said monitoring should be strengthened to stop the entry of smuggled firecrackers, which do not pass DTI inspection.

Villar authored Proposed Senate Resolution No. 644, which directs a Senate study on the trading, exhibition and promotion of Philippine-made fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices.

During the hearing, a leader of a pyrotechnics organization opposed proposals to increase the penalty for selling of unsafe firecrackers from P500,000 to P1 million.

“The penalty would hurt the industry because the pyrotechnics industry has been legalized,” said Engr. Celso Cruz, chairman emeritus of the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc (PPMDAI).

Cruz said that more than 50 percent of pyrotechnics businessmen are within the range of micro-industries, and a majority are in Bulacan, Negros and Cebu provinces. – With Christina Mendez