Bulacan cracker makers get strict on safety

MALOLOS CITY — About 100 pyrotechnics manufacturers in Bulacan met here the other day to discuss stricter safety measures to prevent firecracker-related accidents during the holiday season, such as the fire that gutted 24 firecracker stalls and killed seven people in Bocaue town on Dec. 30 last year.

Neptali Guballa, president of the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. (PPMDAI), said they have sought the assistance of the Civil Security Group of the Philippine National Police to ensure the safety of their production and sale of firecrackers.

Guballa, however, admitted that although their association has required members to put in safety measures, many do not comply with the guidelines, especially during the peak holiday season.

"Supposedly, dealers should not display live firecrackers. Dapat ang ilagay nila doon ay props lang at ang mga may laman ay dapat nasa kanilang mga warehouses. Ilalabas lang dapat kapag nagkabilihan na (They are supposed to display just props in their stores and keep live firecrackers in their warehouses and bring them out only when there are buyers)," he said.

"Pero hindi na minsan nasusunod ito dahil kapag dumating na ang kalakasan ng bentahan, kalat-kalat na sa tindahan ang mga paputok (This, however, is sometimes violated because when sales are brisk, the firecrackers are just scattered in the stores)," he told The STAR.

He said this triggered the tragic New Year’s Eve explosion in Bocaue town last year that claimed seven lives and caused extensive damage to property.

"Lahat ng dealers dapat sumusunod sa standard operating procedures. Ang iba kasi matigas talaga ang ulo (All dealers should comply with standard operating procedures, but some are hard-headed)," he said.

Bulacan is considered as the fireworks capital of the country, with some 100,000 people dependent on the industry for their livelihood.

Among the measures suggested by the PPMDAI is for the PNP to conduct random inspection of firecracker stores to ensure that the dealers comply with safety measures.