Manila gov’t on firecracker ban watch, but needs PNP list

The Manila city government has started monitoring public markets for banned firecrackers even as it waits for the Philippine National Police to come out with an updated list of forbidden pyrotechnic devices under Executive Order No. 28, which was signed by President Duterte in June.

“While we are waiting for the guidance of the PNP, we will continue monitoring our public markets following the provisions of Republic Act 7183,” Mayor Joseph Estrada said in a statement on Thursday.

RA 7183 is the law regulating the use, sale, distribution and manufacture of pyrotechnic materials and firecrackers, while EO 28 limits their use to community fireworks display, Estrada said.

Under the EO, the PNP should determine which firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices are considered banned.

“Section 3 of the executive order [also says that] all firecrackers falling under PNP’s specific list of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices may not be manufactured, sold, distributed or used even as part of a community fireworks display,” Estrada said.

He boasted of the city’s declining cases of firecracker-related injuries in the past years, adding that for this year, the city was aiming for “zero casualty.”

Based on the records of the Manila Health Department, there were around 700 firecracker and burn injury cases in 2013. This went down to 500 cases in 2014, 300 in 2015 and 81 in 2016.

Estrada said he had tasked the Market Administration Office and Manila police to go after vendors selling banned firecrackers, including “Super Lolo” and “Big Triangulo.”

Violators will be fined P20,000 to P30,000 or face imprisonment of six months to one year as mandated by R.A. 7183.