THREE days before New Year’s Eve, the Department of the Interior and Local Government warned any person caught manufacturing, selling, distributing or using illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics might be fined or imprisoned or suffer both penalties.
DILG Officer-in-Charge Catalino Cuy said in a statement the government was serious in regulating firecrackers and would deal with those who would not abide by the law and regulations.
Republic Act 7183 or An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices states that any person who manufactures, sells, distributes or uses firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in violation of the provisions of this Act shall be fined from P20,000 to P30,000, or imprisoned between six months to one year, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.
The license and business permit of manufacturers of illegal firecrackers shall likewise be canceled and their inventory and stock confiscated.
But Cuy said allowable consumer pyrotechnics or ‘pailaw’ might be used outside places of residence.
According to the law, the manufacture, sale, and use of the following firecrackers are strictly prohibited: piccolo or “scratch bangers,” pop pop, Goodbye Philippines or Crying Bading, Yolanda or Goodbye Napoles, Watusi, Pla-pla, Giant Kuwitis, Watusi or “dancing firecrackers,” Super Lolo, Atomic Big Trianggulo, Mother Rockets, Lolo Thunder, Pillbox, Boga, Big Judah’s Belt, Big Bawang, Kwiton, Bin Laden, Kabasi, Atomic Bomb, Five Star, Og, and Giant Whistle Bombs.
All firecrackers with gunpowder exceeding two grams or 1.3 teaspoons are also banned.
Only the following firecrackers and pyrotechnics are allowed: Baby rocket, bawang, small triangle, pulling of strings, paper caps, el diablo, and sky rocket (kwitis), sparklers, luces, fountains, jumbo regular and special, mabuhay, Roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle device, and butterfly.
Meanwhile, Malacañang again appealed to the public to comply with the use of fireworks and pyrotechnic displays in welcoming the New Year.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this year issued Executive Order 28, which provides for the regulation and control of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
“As the celebration of the New Year nears, we reiterate our appeal to all Filipinos to abide by these regulations,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
“Let us all have a safe New Year celebration,” he added.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police released a list of designated areas where “community fireworks display” could be done. John Paolo
In related developments:
— In Quezon City, Mayor Herbert Bautista issued Executive Order 10 spelling out regulations for the sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in compliance with Duterte’s directive ordering all barangay chairpersons to designate fireworks display zones.
In a memorandum issued by the Barangay Operations Center, all barangays are required to submit the list of designated areas until Dec. 28 as the areas shall be designated by the Sangguniang Barangay through a barangay resolution.
The measure is in consonance with the “Iwas Paputok Campaign 2017” of the national government, Bautista said.
“These zones shall be in a public and open space and fired at a distance of one hundred feet away from persons and that all residents are informed of theses designated community fireworks display zones,” Section 7 of EO 10 read.
The mayor called on the residents to follow the laws on the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
— In Makati City, Mayor Abigail Binay ordered the ban of firecrackers in 12 out of its 33 barangays.
The 12 barangays where fireworks and pyrotechnic displays are totally banned include Bangkal, Magallanes and Pio del Pilar which are covered by the ban imposed through City Ordinance No. 2010-A-020 due to the West Tower oil leak. Barangays Rizal, Cembo, East Rembo, Northside, Pinagkaisahan, Carmona, Olympia, San Antonio, and Sta. Cruz were included in the ban due to lack of fire stations or fire trucks.
The city chief executive also directed community officials to set the guidelines for the remaining barangays, which will be allowed to put up only one pyrotechnic display zone each after obtaining a permit from city hall.
“We have come up with stringent guidelines providing adequate precautionary measures to ensure the safety of Makatizens in welcoming the New Year. We urge our barangay leaders and residents to fully cooperate with the city government in aiming for a zero-casualty, accident-free celebration in our city,” Binay said.
City administrator Claro Certeza immediately issued a memorandum to barangay leaders providing guidelines for the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in the city.
— Environment group Ecowaste Coalition on Thursday urged barangay officials, members of youth councils and other community leaders to strictly monitor their areas of jurisdiction to prevent the sale of Piccolo and other banned firecrackers in connection with the New Year revelry.
“We can win the war versus Piccolo, the biggest culprit behind most firecracker-related injuries, if barangay and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) leaders, together with the police force, will take action against recalcitrant dealers,” said Aileen Lucero, Ecowaste National Coordinator.
She said local barangay officials were in a strategic position to monitor and stop the sale of Piccolo and other prohibited firecrackers like Atomic Bomb Triangulo, Goodbye Earth, Judas’ Belt, Super Lolo, Whistle Bomb and Watusi in areas under their care and jurisdiction.
“We therefore urge the barangay and youth councils to spend the next few days combing the streets to apprehend sari-sari store owners and others engaged in the unlawful sale of banned firecrackers, including those that sell firecrackers to minors,” Lucero said.
Republic Act 7183, a law regulating and controlling the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, penalizes violators with a fine of not less than P20,000 but not more than P30,000, or imprisonment from six months to one year, or both such fine and jail term.
For a safer and cleaner celebration of the New Year, Ecowaste appealed to the public to take the following “don’ts” to heart:
1. Don’t light firecrackers.
2. Don’t fire guns.
3. Don’t use “boga” (improvised cannon).
4. Don’t burn used tires.
5. Don’t burn garbage.
6. Don’t release sky lanterns.
7. Don’t use substandard Christmas lights.
Today, the group will stage another “Iwas Paputoxic” event in collaboration with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society to draw attention to the adverse effects of firecrackers and fireworks to cats and dogs.
The event will be held in close coordination with Department of Health, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and other agencies.