‘Illegal firecracker sales down’

BOCAUE, Philippines — Coordination between fireworks traders and the police has resulted in the reduction of sales of illegal firecrackers in this town known as the “fireworks capital” of the country.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde inspected several fireworks stalls in Barangay Turo in this Bulacan town yesterday morning and found that most stall owners have opted to sell pyrotechnic devices and avoided selling firecrackers.

Albayalde said fireworks patrons confirmed that they have avoided buying firecrackers, which are banned outside their residences and the firecrackers are only allowed in designated community fireworks display areas as specified under Executive Order 28 signed by President Duterte in June 2016.

With EO 28 and the Memorandum Circular 31 issued by Malacañang recently that suspended the issuance of new fireworks permits, the remaining legitimate fireworks makers have been cooperating with the police to keep the traditional New Year celebration ablaze with colorful fireworks displays and roaring firecrackers at designated places.

Fireworks stakeholders claimed that this is the reason for the decline in sales of firecrackers that started days before New Year’s Eve last year.

Albayalde also checked the fire certificates, business permits, police permits and fire safety precautionary measures of the fireworks stall owners and noted that only two illegal manufacturers were apprehended this year in Bulacan. The police seized P300,000 worth of products from the erring traders.

Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said that undercover policemen were deployed along the stretch of fireworks stalls in Bocaue, Santa Maria and Baliuag in Bulacan to crack down on ambulant vendors selling illegal firecrackers.

Almost halfway through the surveillance period of the Department of Health (DOH), the improvised cannon devise called boga has emerged as the leading cause of firecracker injuries.

In a report, the DOH said eight new cases of firecracker-related injuries were recorded from 6 a.m. of Dec. 27 to 6 a.m. of Dec. 28, bringing the total to 40 since Dec. 21. 

Boga accounted for most cases at 11 or 28 percent, while piccolo, which had been the top cause of injuries, only had three injuries or eight percent.

The DOH noted this was 38 cases or 49 percent lower compared to the same period in 2017.

Others are kwitis with five (13 percent); triangle with three (eight percent) and baby rocket and luces with two (five percent) each.

Data show 35 of the 40 cases were males. The ages of the victims ranged from two to 69 years old.

The DOH added that four cases required amputation while 13 had eye injuries.

There were two cases of poisoning from fireworks ingestion. 

New measure

A senior lawmaker is seeking to limit to P5,000 the amount of firecrackers that each individual could purchase to minimize incidents resulting in injury or worse, death.

In Bill 8085, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte is also urging local government units (LGUs) to designate places where firecrackers could be used.

He made the proposals as the DOH reported this week an increasing number of fireworks-related injuries across the country ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebration.

He said his proposed measures “are necessary to prevent injuries and tragedies arising from the irresponsible use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, especially during the Christmas and New Year’s Day festivities.”

The bill provides that persons and business entities needing more than P5,000 worth of firecrackers would have to seek special permits from the Philippine National Police’s Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO).

The measure bans the use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices in areas other than those designated by LGUs as display zones. 

It mandates cities and towns, in coordination with barangays, to conduct massive advocacy and information dissemination on safety guidelines for fireworks or pyrotechnic use and exhibition. 

Bill 8085 provides penalties for violators: a fine of P100,000 and revocation of business license for a manufacturer, dealer, distributor or seller who violates P5,000-per-person sale limit. 

The measure also requires manufacturers, dealers and wholesale distributors of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to indicate the names and addresses of all their accredited retail stores, outlets, re-sellers to the PNP-FEO. ?National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said yesterday that some 459 designated firecrackers and fireworks display zones were established in Metro Manila.

Eleazar urged the public to use these firecrackers and fireworks display zones to keep them away from bodily harm while celebrating the New Year.

“These are the areas where anybody can bring their firecrackers and fireworks for their use. Of course, they should bring along only those authorized by the government,” Eleazar said.

The NCRPO chief pointed out that the designated firecracker zones aim to reduce fire incidents caused by fireworks and firecrackers.

The designated firecracker zones are in compliance with President Duterte’s Executive Order No. 28, which bans private citizens from putting up their own fireworks displays or use firecrackers in their residences. 

Eleazar said the designated areas are identified by the NCRPO, in coordination with local government units and barangay officials.

According to Eleazar, police assistance desks would be established in these areas and will be manned by police personnel who would be augmented by the NCRPO force multipliers. – With Jess Diaz, Non Alquitran, Sheila Crisostomo