Roxas orders stepped up effort against deadly firecrackers

AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II has directed the police, fire bureau and local government units to step up measures to regulate “deadly” firecrackers and pyrotechnics ahead of the holiday season.

Roxas instructed the local officials to coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to stop the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that may cause deaths, injuries or fires particularly during the Christmas and New Year revelries.

He said the PNP, BFP, and city government officials will conduct “intensified joint inspections” of manufacturing sites and warehouses to ensure the safe stockpiling of firecrackers.

Citing the 2012 Fireworks-Related Injury Surveillance report, Roxas said several local government units in Metro Manila recorded the highest number of firecracker-related injuries.

Non-deadly firecrackers

Based on the Republic Act 7183 or the act regulating the sale, manufacture, use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, accredited manufacturers with appropriate business permits and licenses are only allowed to produce the following:

• For firecrackers: “baby rockets,” “bawang,” “small trianggulo,” “pulling of strings,” “paper caps,” “el diablo,” “Judah’s belt,” “sky rocket or kwitis,” and other types with limited explosive contents.

• For pyrotechnics: “mabuhay,” “Roman candle,” “trompillo,” “whistle device,” “butterfly,” “foundation,” “jumbo regular,” “luces,” “sparklers,” all kinds of pyrotechnic “pailaw.”

Also under the law, certain firecrackers and pyrotechnics including “atomic big,” “trianggulo,” “super lolo,” and “giant whistle bomb,” and other types of firecracker with more than 0.2 grams or more 1/3 teaspoon of explosives, are prohibited.

The order specifically mentioned the danger of using improvised guns, particularly “boga” made of polyvinyl chloride pipe.

As for the provincial government, Roxas instructed governors to intensify information campaign against the use of deadly firecrackers within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Fire-prone zones

The Department of Interior and Local Government secretary reiterated as well the measures on designation of “firecracker and pyrotechnic zones,” manufacturing zone,” and “fireworks exhibition zone.”

Under RA 7183, the manufacturing zone should be 300 meters away from the nearest residential area.

Display centers, meanwhile, should be separated from each other with firewall and fire-prevention equipment such as fire extinguisher put in place.

He added that smoking, testing of firecrackers and pyrotechnics, and anything that could trigger fire should be kept away from these zones.