Talisay tells residents: Don’t patronize banned firecrackers

CEBU, Philippines -  The Talisay City government warned the public against using prohibited firecrackers to celebrate Christmas as these may cause injury or death.

Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said the city government has designated the Barangay Tanke covered court as the selling zone for firecrackers. 

Firecracker vendors can start displaying and selling firecrackers two weeks before the celebration of the yuletide season.

The local police urged firecracker vendors to refrain from selling prohibited firecrackers such as the “piccolo,” “super lolo,” and other firecrackers that are banned.

  Imported firecrackers won’t be sold in the firecracker zone.

De los Reyes said children are the most vulnerable, and parents and elders are urged to discourage children from playing with firecrackers or picking up unexploded ones.

The Department of Health and DTI list “watusi” or the “dancing firecracker” as dangerous.

It was initially allowed for sale and manufacture under RA 7183 but was eventually banned because it causes poisoning when ingested, especially among children while the “Piccolo” has been the leading cause of firecracker-related injuries since 2007.

The DOH banned it in 2007 because it can explode in one’s hands, and may cause death when ingested.

The “Super Lolo” and “Atomic Big Triangulo” are two firecrackers specifically mentioned in RA 7183.

A “Mother Rocket” is firecracker on a stick designed as a propellant upon lighting the wick.

“Lolo Thunder” is a powerful firecracker twice the size of a “Five Star.” “Pillbox” is a firecracker that causes a series of sparks when lit.

A recently recognized dangerous firecracker is “boga,” a traditional canon made from PVC pipes using denatured alcohol as explosive ingredient.

“Big Judah’s Belt” is a string of firecrackers consisting of smaller firecrackers that number up to a hundred, and culminating in a larger and more powerful firecracker.

Other banned firecrackers include the “Atomic Bomb,” “Five Star,” “Pla-pla,” “Og,” “Giant Whistle Bomb,” and unlabelled firecrackers.

Under the law on pyrotechnic devices, persons caught manufacturing, selling, distributing, and purchasing these items may be imprisoned from six months to a year and fined between P20,000 and P30,000. (FREEMAN)