Only 3 of 35 licensed fireworks makers pass PH standards — PNP

MANILA, Philippines — Only three of the 35 manufacturers of fireworks given licenses by the Philippine National Police have passed the Philippine Standards (PS), a police official admitted on Tuesday.

“We issued license to manufacturers, 35 sir ‘yung manufacturers…” Brig. Gen. Rommil Mitra, chief of PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office, said during the hearing of the Senate committee on public hearing on measures on the use and sale of fireworks in the country.

READ: Duterte eyes total fireworks ban in 2021

“Of the 35, tatlo lang sir ‘yung nakapasa sa (only three passed the) Philippine Standards. Pero just the same we issued the license because there’s no requirement sir na you the manufacturers should [have passed the standards],” Mitra added.

Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo earlier explained to the committee that “every legitimate manufacturer” should have been issued a certification by the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) in accordance with the existing law.

At present, Castelo said there are only three manufacturers that have existing licenses, one has already expired in December 2020 but has a pending renewal application before the BPS.

“I understand that they are license retailers also but maybe we can ask them to license only those selling products that are certified by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), Mr. Chair,” she said, referring to the PNP.

Panel chair Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa then reminded the PNP to always require the PS certificate before issuing licenses to fireworks makers.

“Huwag kayong issue ng issue ng permits na outside dun sa standards kasi batas yun e…” Dela Rosa said.

(Don’t issue permits outside the standards because that’s provided for in the law)

Mitra, however, insisted such requirement was not “written” in law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRRs).

“Alam niyo, babalik na naman tayo sa IRR…In the absence of IRR, you stick to the law. Kung ano nakalagay dun sa law, yun ang sundin nyo. Kasi minsan yung IRR na ini-issue ninyo e nag o-over shoot na dun sa original intent of the law,” Dela Rosa pointed out.

(You know, we’ll go back to the IRR. In the absence of IRR, you stick to the law. You should follow the law. Because you know sometimes the IRR that you issue overshoots the original intent of the law.)

“Sabi mo walang IRR, hindi nakalagay sa IRR…nasa batas ‘yun (You said there’s no IRR, it’s not in the IRR…but it’s in the law),” he stressed.

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