The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reiterates its public reminder about the ban on illegal sale and discharge of Piccolo or “scratch bangers”.
“Mariin pong ipinagbabawal ang pagbebenta ng Piccolo na isa sa mga pangunahing sanhi ng firework-related injuries sa bansa. Bawal po itong ibenta maging sa mga sari-sari store. Maging responsable at maingat po tayo sa ating mga sarili sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko at Bagong Taon,” says DILG Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Catalino S. Cuy on Friday.
Aside from Piccolo, prohibited firecrackers include but are not limited to Super Lolo, Whistle Bomb, Goodbye Earth, Atomic Big Triangulo, Judas Belt, and Watusi.
All firecrackers with gunpowder exceeding two grams or 1.3 teaspoons are also strictly prohibited.
Amid stern warning, the DILG OIC clarifies through a memorandum circular that “all allowable consumer pyrotechnics or ‘pailaw’ may be used outside designated community fireworks areas, meaning outside places of residences.”
“Nais po nating linawin sa publiko na ang mga pinapahintulutang pyrotechnics o ‘pailaw’ ay maaari pong gamitin hindi lamang sa designated community fireworks areas kundi pati na rin sa labas ng inyong tahanan. Sa kabila nito, mariin pa ring pinaaalalahanan ang publiko na maging maingat sa paggamit ng pyrotechnics,” says the DILG OIC.
The directive states that the said clarificatory policy guideline is upon the request of Philippine Fireworks Association to explain Section 2 of Executive Order (EO) No. 28, series of 2017, which provides for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Section 2 of EO No. 28 states that, “Pyrotechnic devices other than firecrackers may be used outside community fireworks displays.”
Cuy directs all provincial governors and city and municipal mayors, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and all others concerned to cause the immediate and widest dissemination of the said policy to all local government units (LGUs) within their respective jurisdictions and ensure compliance to the provisions of the Memorandum Circular. He said that non-compliance to this Memorandum Circular shall be dealt with in accordance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
Just last week, the DILG OIC told PNP and BFP to enforce stricter measures on the use of firecrackers this holiday season.
He prodded them to once again conduct inspections, confiscate and destroy prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in accordance with EO No. 28 as well as Republic Act (RA) No. 7183, an Act regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Cuy further reminded LGUs to issue permits for the conduct of community fireworks display specifying the date and time of fireworks display and the specific area in which the display will be conducted, in conformity with national standards, rules and regulations.
According to RA 7183, only the following types of firecrackers can be manufactured, sold, distributed and used: baby rocket, bawang, small triangle, pulling of strings, paper caps, el diablo, and skyrocket (kwitis).
Meanwhile, the following pyrotechnic devices are allowed: sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo regular and special, mabuhay, Roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle device, and butterfly.
