PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos has ordered all police units nationwide to seize prohibited firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices and arrest all persons who will try to sell and distribute them.

Carlos issued the directive as he reiterated the PNP ‘s call for a safe and meaningful holiday celebration by seeing to it that they will fully enforce all rules regulating the sale of firecrackers.

“Our guidelines are in place pursuant to Executive Order 28 and Republic Act 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. Carlos said.

The top cop emphasized that the sale of these illegal firecrackers outside designated firecracker zones is strictly prohibited and punishable under the law.

Thus, he ordered his men to seize the banned items and impose necessary penalties against their manufacturers and distributors.

RA 7183 and EO 28 identified the following firecrackers regulated for sale and use: Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Judas’ Belt, Paper Caps, Pulling of Strings, Sky Rocket (Kwitis), Small “Triangulo and other types of firecrackers that are not oversized, not over weight and not imported.

Allowed to be sold and used are 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.

Prohibited from being manufactured, sold and used are 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 De Lima, 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, and other types of firecrackers with other brands/names equivalent to those that are prohibited.

PNP spokesperson, Colonel Roderick Augustus B. Alba said all pyrotechnics or ‘pailaw’ are allowed to be used in public and even outside one’s residence as provided under Section 2 or EO No. 28.

Alba said the PNP chief has been vested the power to determine what constitutes prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

He added that they are encouraging community firework displays in local government units as long as they still adhere to the minimum public health standard and done only on designated areas for safety purposes.

In line with the PNP leadership’s effort to ensure minimal casualties during the holiday season, Carlos ordered all 17 police regional offices to strictly enforce the firecracker ban.

“The PNP will make sure that the provisions on regulating, manufacturing and distributing firecrackers will be strictly implemented based on EO No. 28 that provides for the Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices,” the top cop said.

Carlos has also instructed his men to inspect areas in their jurisdiction where firecrackers and pyrotechnics are known to be be manufactured, both legally in licensed factories and illegally in clandestine shops.

These are particularly found in some parts of Central Luzon specifically in Bulacan.

“The PNP will enforce the provisions of Executive Order No. 28 to the letter,” Carlos said as he reiterated the full support of the PNP to the Department of Health (DOH) in promoting the national advocacy for safety in the celebration of the holiday season that is traditionally marked by festive revelry accentuated by fireworks.

The PNP will make it a priority to safeguard every locality with enough police manpower, he said. Each police station will coordinate with their respective local government unit to identify and monitor the designated firecracker zones too, he added.

“These zones shall be carefully inspected in coordination with public safety agencies such as the Bureau of Fire Protection and local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils. The PNP is serving fair warning to manufacturers and retailers not to engage in the distribution of illegal firecrackers, at the risk of confiscation and arrest,” Gen. Carlos emphasized.

He also encouraged the public if possible to use safe alternatives in the celebration of the holidays.

The Department of Interior and Local Government headed by Secretary Eduardo M. Año last year also ordered all police units to confiscate unauthorized fireworks and make arrests amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DILG chief instructed the police force to inspect manufacturing complex, warehouses and processing area of manufacturers and dealers” of firecrackers in their areas of responsibility to ensure that safety guidelines are followed.

The PNP is getting the support of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in doing the inspection. Since last year, only community fireworks display led by LGUs have been allowed.

This early, the PNP Civil Security Group headed by Major Gen. Jesus D. Cambay Jr. has already launched a massive information dissemination campaign under the government’s Oplan Paalala: Iwas Paputok 2022’ to ensure that the public is reminded of safety hazards during the celebration of New Year.

In 2017, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 28 which regulated the use of firecrackers. The PNP fully supported EO No. 28 otherwise known as “Providing For The Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers And Other Pyrotechnic Devices.”

EO 28 banned individuals from using firecrackers or setting up their own fireworks displays, a cultural tradition Filipinos are accustomed to during “events of personal, religious, cultural and national importance,” especially during New Year’s Eve or even Chinese New Year.

As a result, the PNP and the Department of Health since 2017 have recorded a substantial reduction in firecracker-related injuries or casualties.