‘Hello Colombia’ banned in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Firecracker manufacturers are apparently riding on the controversy in the Miss Universe pageant by naming a firecracker “Hello Colombia.”

Miss Universe pageant emcee Steve Harvey announced by mistake that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez was the winner during the recent pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Harvey immediately owned up to his mistake and announced that Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was the official winner in the pageant.

The Miss Universe controversy prompted fireworks makers to develop a new kind of illegal firecracker being sold in some stores in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has included Hello Colombia among the banned fireworks.

During an inspection of stalls in Bocaue yesterday afternoon, police seized several Hello Colombia, which is bigger than the average firecracker and packed with more gunpowder, thus a hazard to the general public.

Supt. Genelle Galmatico of the PNP Civil Service Group said the police regularly inspect the fireworks stalls in Bulacan.

“Hello Colombia firecrackers are prohibited by law. They contain more gunpowder than is allowed. Personnel of police and local government units also seized Goodbye Bading and Goodbye Philippines,” Galmatico added.

Banned firecrackers are those that contain a net explosive content of more than 0.2 grams or approximately 1/3 teaspoon under Republic Act 7183, the law that regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

Most of the seized firecrackers were super lolo, lolo thunder, Goodbye Philippines, watusi, piccolo, mother rockets, pillbox, boga, big Judah’s belt, big bawang, kwiton and kabasi.

The Department of Health’s Epidemiology Bureau reported yesterday that the banned piccolo is still the leading cause of firecracker injuries among children.

Data gathered from Dec. 21 to 29 showed that 128 individuals were injured after using firecrackers and fireworks and 76 of them were caused by piccolo.

Four percent were due to five star; followed by kwitis, two percent; sparklers and other firecrackers, six percent.

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) yesterday gave assurance that its members are ready for the possible influx of firecracker victims in the coming New Year Revelry.

“Hospitals are prepared for firecracker victims, especially with tetanus shots and more personnel and things to be used to suture wounds of victims,” said PHAPi president Rustico Jimenez.

He claimed that hospitals are also prepared with the equipment needed to amputate limbs “although I really hope we would not have to use bone cutter.”

Jimenez has appealed to the public not to drink if they are planning to use firecrackers.

He added that when under the influence of alcohol, a person might be unable to throw the lighted firecracker in time because of slower reflexes.

The hospitals of the DOH, on the other hand, have been placed under Code White Alert since Dec. 21 to make sure that there are enough manpower and logistics for firecracker victims.

Police appeal

Two days before the New Year revelry, the police appealed to the public to stop patronizing illegal firecrackers and law enforcers also urged dealers to sell only the items allowed by law.

Supt. Kim Molitas, spokesperson for the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO), reminded parents to watch their children to prevent accidents from firecrackers.

“We are reminding the public on the dangers of firecrackers. Again we ask the general public not to patronize firecrackers this New Year celebration,” Molitas said.

“We are reminding our parents to please guide your children on the use of any. We also ask our retailers to help in our campaign by adhering to the rules on selling only what is allowed,” he added.

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez directed police commanders to stop the sale of illegal firecrackers or they will be held accountable for the number of firecracker-related injuries during the holidays.

“The context of the campaign against illegal firecrackers is related to the number of injuries on the ground. So my instruction to police regional directors is that the campaign should be bold enough such that dealers of illegal firecrackers could no longer sell their products,” Marquez said.

The PNP launched operational guidelines on “Ligtas Paskuhan” 2015 starting Dec. 16 until Jan. 5, 2016.

The PNP has confiscated P631,606 worth of illegal firecrackers.

Fireworks dealers nationwide complained that policemen are also confiscating sawa products that are legal fireworks.

Lea Alapide, president of the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. (PPMDAI), told The STAR that several of their members from Region II and the provinces of Tarlac, Leyte, Bacolod and Bohol have complained that police operatives have been confiscating their sawa products based on a directive written on plain paper without a letterhead and with an unrecognizable signature.

The fireworks dealers appealed to the PNP chief to issue a directive to all policemen regarding the scope of the Firecracker Law.

If police operatives continue to confiscate legitimate fireworks products, Alapide said that many of their members would suffer big losses.

The fireworks industry is suffering a big slump in sales this year.

Alapide explained that their group had been cooperating with the police in the implementation of RA 7183.

MPD-Station 11 chief Col. Romeo Macapaz said tighter control in the production of firecrackers is significant in preventing illegal items from being sold in the market.

“We try our best to confiscate these illegal firecrackers, but the continuous production of fireworks makes it hard for us to do so,” Macapaz said.

In San Fernando City, La Union a vendor selling illegal firecrackers was arrested yesterday.

Supt. Julius Suriben, San Fernando police chief, identified the vendor as Kristine Robosa, 38, of San Fabian, Pangasinan.

Seized from Robosa were 28 boxes of assorted illegal firecrackers like piccolo that were labeled “party packs” to confuse policemen, said Suriben.

Charges will be filed against her for violation of RA 7183. Her permit to sell will also be cancelled.

Mayor Pablo Ortega said the city government is strictly enforcing ordinances against the selling of firecrackers for public safety.

Police seized P300,000 worth of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics from two men on board a van in Calamba City, Laguna.

Pepito Dacuya, 36, and Edo Dacuya, 22, both residents of Guiguinto, Bulacan were nabbed on board their Forward Wing van with license plate AAT 3195 when they were intercepted by operatives of the Intelligence Unit along the highway, said Sr. Supt. Florendo Saligao, Laguna police director. – With Ghio Ong, Ed Amoroso, Ramon Lazaro, Jun Elias