PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Thursday appealed to the public to fully cooperate with their strict enforcement of Republic Act 7183 or the firecrackers law as part of their efforts to arrest deaths and injuries and major damage to properties caused by these devices being used by Filipinos to welcome the New Year.

“PNP units are under instructions to strictly enforce RA 7183 or An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices to ensure that the manufacturing, distribution and use of regulated and illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices are check at all times with the end in view of no or lesser damage to property and injuries to people,” the top cop said.

The PNP chief likewise ordered an intensified operation against unscrupulous individuals involved in the online sale of illegal firecrackers in the country.

The top cop asked the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group headed by Brigadier Gen. Joel B. Doria to step up cyber-patrols to monitor persons offering to sell banned firecrackers and other pyrotechnics ahead of the New Year revelries.

Last week, at least 11 persons were hauled to jail by the PNP-ACG amid the PNP chief’s directive. Confiscated from the suspects were nearly P50,000 worth of illegal firecrackers.

All the suspects are facing charges for violation of RA 7183 in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 otherwise known as “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.’

Violators of the law face a fine of P20,000 to as much as P30,000 and imprisonment of six months to one year as well as cancellation of license and business permit and confiscation of their inventory stock.

Gen. Azurin has ordered all concerned PNP units to coordinate with other law enforcement agencies and local government units their effort to seize and destroy prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices without let-up.

He also instructed the 17 police regional offices to go all-out against illegal firecracker factories and establishment selling banned fireworks in the country as part of their effort to minimize fire and other deadly firecracker-related incidents during the Yuletide Season.

Last month, five persons died and four others were injured in an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in Calamba City in Laguna which is still being investigated by the Laguna Police Provincial Office headed by Colonel Randy Glenn G. Silvio.

A similar incident also took place in Sta. Maria, Bulacan which injured 10 people.

The owners and operators of the two clandestine firecracker factories are facing criminal charges after they were found to be operating without any government permits. Col. Silvio said they are also investigating the source of the firecracker materials which exploded in Calamba City.

Officials of the PNP Civil Security Group headed by Major Gen. Eden T. Ugale and the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office under Colonel Paul Kenneth T. Lucas have inspected fireworks factories and stores in Bulacan which is known as the fireworks capital of The Philippines.

The inspection is aimed at ensuring that the establishments are fully compliant with the provisions of RA 7183 and are compliant with standards set by the Department of Trade and Industry.

At present, there are 61 licensed fireworks stores and six legitimate fireworks factories in Bocaue municipality alone.

The PNP has previously released the names and brands of allowed and prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnics, ahead of the Christmas and New Year revelries.

The PNP leadership said the guidelines are in place pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 28 and RA 7183 that regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

“The PNP expects everyone’s cooperation because it is the responsibility of every stakeholder to protect one another from any firecracker-related injury,” Gen. Azurin said.

RA 7183 and EO 28 enumerate the firecrackers which are regulated for sale and use:

• Baby Rocket;• Bawang;• El Diablo; Paper Caps; Pulling of Strings; Sky Rocket (Kwitis); Small “Triangulo”; • Other types of firecrackers that are not oversized, not overweight, and not imported.

The following is the list of pyrotechnic devices allowed to be sold and used: •Butterfly;• Fountain;• Jumbo Regular and Special; • Luces; Mabuhay;• Roman Candle;• Sparklers;• Trompillo;• Whistle Device;. • All kinds of pyrotechnic devices (Pailaw) and other types equivalent to the foregoing pyrotechnic devices.

The prohibited firecrackers are as follows:•Watusi; • Piccolo;• Poppop;• Five Star;• Pla-pla; Lolo Thunder;• Giant Bawang; Giant Whistle Bomb; • Atomic Bomb; • Super Lolo; • Atomic Triangle;• Goodbye Bading; • Large-size Judas Belt; • Goodbye Philippines; Goodbye Delima;• Bin Laden; • Hello Columbia; • Mother Rockets;• Goodbye Napoles; • Coke-in-Can;• Super Yolanda;• Pillbox;• Mother Rockets;• Boga;• Kwiton;• Kabasi;•

all overweight and oversized firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices (FCPD);• All imported finished products;• Other unlabelled locally made FCPD products;• Other types of firecrackers with other brands/names equivalent to those that are prohibited

The sale of allowed firecrackers outside designated firecracker zones is strictly prohibited and punishable under the law. Violators will face appropriate penalties while these items will be seized.

The PNP said community firework displays in local government units are encouraged as long as these are compliant with minimum health protocols and are held only on designated areas for safety of the public.