Mar orders crackdown on illegal firecrackers, pyrotechnics

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas ordered local officials nationwide to strictly enforce existing laws prohibiting the sale of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices that may cause injuries or death during the holidays.

Roxas also ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to conduct intensified joint inspections of manufacturing sites and warehouses to avoid disaster in stockpiling of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

Based on the 2012 Fireworks-Related Injury Surveillance, Roxas noted that several local government units in the National Capital Region recorded the highest number of firecracker-related injuries.

In separate memorandum circulars, Roxas reminded provincial governors, city and municipal mayors and barangay captains as well as the PNP and the BFP of their roles and responsibilities under Republic Act (RA) 7183 or An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices in accordance with Section 16 of Republic Act  7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

RA 7183 limits the manufacture, distribution, sale and use to a limited number of firecrackers and pyrotechnics to promote public health and safety.

For firecrackers, accredited manufacturers with appropriate business permits and licenses are allowed to produce "baby rockets," "bawang," "small trianggulo," "pulling of strings," "paper caps," "el diablo," "Judas Belt," "sky rocket or kwitis"” and other types with limited explosive contents.

For pyrotechnics, those allowed are “mabuhay,” “Roman Candle,” “trompillo,” “whistle device,” “butterfly,” “foundation,” “jumbo regular,” “luces,” “sparklers,” all kinds of pyrotechnic “pailaw.”

Roxas directed the local officials to coordinate with the PNP and BFP to prevent the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of deadly firecrackers and pyrotechnics and devices that lead to tragic deaths, injuries or cause destructive fires particularly during the Christmas and New Year revelries.

Under the law, certain firecrackers and pyrotechnics including “atomic big,” “trianggulo,” “super lolo”, “giant whistle bomb” and other types of firecracker with more than 0.2 grams or more 1/3 teaspoon of explosives, are prohibited.

The order specifically mentioned the danger of using improvised guns, particularly “boga” made of polyvinyl chloride pipe which became popular among Christmas and New Year revellers.

Roxas asked the governor to order the cities and municipalities to take the lead in conducting information campaign against the use of deadly firecrackers within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

He advised local officials to convene their peace and order councils and approve measures ensuring the safety of their constituents, including the designation of “manufacturing zone”, “display center” or “firecracker and pyrotechnic zones”, and “fireworks exhibition zone.”

The manufacturing zone, under section 7 of RA 7183, should be 300 meters away from the nearest residential area, while display centers should be separated from each other with firewall and fire-prevention equipment such as fire extinguisher put in place.

Smoking, testing of firecrackers and pyrotechnics, and anything that could trigger fire should be kept away from these zones.