PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Debold M. Sinas yesterday said he has ordered all 17 police regional office directors to fully enforce all laws and rules and regulations regarding the manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in the country.
The strict enforcement of the firecracker law will help ensure minimal firecracker-related deaths and injuries as well as deadly fires which have literally greeted the country each time it welcomed the New Year prior to the entry of the COVI-19 pandemic.
In Metro Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. said they will fully enforce a Metro Manila Council decision to implement a complete ban on the use of firecrackers in the metropolis this year.
According to Sinas, the NCRPO and the other 16 Police Regional Offices have been instructed to fully enforce Republic Act 7183 or an act regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices; and Executive Order 28 providing for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other similar devices.
The PNP Firearms and Explosives Office said that under the law, the following firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices are prohibited in the country and are not allowed to be used inside and outside so-called firecracker zones designated by local government units and designated community fireworks display areas.
“Overweight’ or firecrackers with more than 1/3 teaspoon or more than 0.2 gram of net explosive ingredients; ‘Oversized’ like Atomic, Big Triangulo, Super Lolo, Giant Whistle Bomb etc; those with fuse which should not burn less than three seconds but not more than six seconds; imported or finished products being smuggled in the country; and mixture of sulphur and/or phosphorous mixed with chlorate.
The use of the following are also strictly prohibited:
Watusi, Piccolo, Pop-Pop, Five-Star, Pla-Plan, Lolo Thunder, Giant Bawang, Giant Whistle Bomb, Atomic Bomb, Atomic Triangle, Large-size Judas Belt, Goodbye De Lima, Hello Columbia, Goodbye Napoles, Super Yolanda, Mother Rocker, Kwiton, Super Lolo, Goodbye Bading, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, Coke-in-Can, Pillbox, Boga and Kabasi.
Only the use of the following firecrackers are allowed inside firecrackers zone and community fireworks display areas only: Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Paper Caps, Pulling of Strings, Kwitis or Sky Rocket, Small Triangulo and other firecrackers which are not oversized nor overweight and not imported.
The use of the following however are allowed outside firecrackers zone and designated community fireworks display areas: Buttefly, Fountain, Jumbo Regular and Special, Luces, Mabuhay, Roman Candle, Sparklers, Trompillo, Whistle Device, all kinds of Pailaw and other types equivalent to the allowed pyrotechnic devices.
The NCRPO will also fully implement the NCR Regional Peace and Order Council Resolution 19-2020 recommending the ban on firecrackers in the metropolis.
Danao said the Metro Manila mayors passed the resolution knowing the dangers posed by firecrackers to lives and limbs every New Year revelries apart from starting deadly fires.
“Resolution No. 19 by all Metro Manila mayors po ay unanimously agreed na the total ban po of firecrackers sa buong Kamaynilaan, sa buong NCR po. So bawal na po, any kind of firecrackers ay bawal na pong gamitin, ibenta dito po sa loob ng Metro Manila,” Danao said.
“It was unanimously agreed by all Metro Manila mayors through Resolution No. 19 so mag-lumpias po ‘yan,” he added.
The NCRPO chief said violators will be initially apprehended and will be told not to repeat the same offense. He added that fireworks displays in safe, designated areas should first be approved by local government units too.
