CEBU, Philippines – The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office the other day conducted a surprise inspection on the designated firecrackers zone in Dumaguete City to check if illegal and prohibited pyrotechnics were being sold to the public.
Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, director of NOrPPO, and Senior Police Officer 2 John Paul Poliquit, head of the Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory Section, led the inspection team that eventually found some illegal and prohibited firecrackers, which they confiscated and removed from the displays.
Superintendent Jovito Atanacio, Dumaguete City Police chief, who was with the team, said they found firecrackers that exceeded the allowable powder content, and imported ones that were relabeled to skirt regulations.
There were several stall owners also who had no mayor’s permit or were still to apply for it, while others had multiple outlets covered with only one permit, in violation of the law, said Atanacio.
Japar Maca-agir, the designated leader of the group that sells firecrakcers and pyrotechnics along Colon Street near the Bureau of Fire Protection station, said he was aware of the regulation on powder content of firecrackers, which was set at a maximum of 1/3 teaspoon per item, but the police team found some sellers violating this.
Maca-agir said prohibited firecrackers, under Republic Act 7183 or the law on pyrotechnic devices, are: Markang-Yawa, Bin Ladin, Goodbye Philippines, Super Lolo or Atomic Big Triangulo, Mother Rockets, Lolo Thunder, Pillbox, Camara, Pla-pla, Piccolo, Boga, Judas Belt, Bawang, Whistle Bomb, and Watusi or dancing firecrackers, among others.
Watusi was banned because it causes poisoning when ingested, especially by children, and Piccolo has been the leading cause of firecracker-related injuries since 2007, according to statistics from the Department of Health, because it can explode on the hands.
The team however found that some regulations were complied with, such as having fire extinguishers or water containers in each stall, and putting up of signage on “no smoking” and “no testing.” (FREEMAN)