PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. appealed to the public to cooperate with the strict enforcement of Republic Act 7183 or the firecrackers law to avoid deaths, injuries and damage to property during the New Year revelries.

“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 checked 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.

In 2021, the PNP arrested 175 persons for illegal possession/use/sale of firecrackers following operations which led to the seizure of nearly P1.825 billion worth of assorted banned firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

In 2022, the number of arrested violators went down to 244 although the volume of seized products rose to P2.580 billion.

The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) was also asked to step up their cyber patrols to monitor persons selling banned firecrackers and other pyrotechnics ahead of the New Year revelries.

Last year, 11 persons were hauled to jail by the PNP-ACG for selling nearly P50,000 worth of illegal firecrackers to undercover officers.

The 11 were charged for violation of RA 7183 in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.’

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

Acorda 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.

He also instructed the 17 police regional offices to go all-out against illegal firecracker factories and establishments selling banned fireworks as part of their efforts to minimize fire and other deadly firecracker-related incidents during the yuletide.

Officials of the PNP Civil Security Group headed by Major Gen. Benjamin H. Silo Jr. and the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office formerly under Brigadier Gen. Roger L. Quezada inspected fireworks factories and stores in Bulacan.

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

At present, there are some 60 licensed fireworks stores and six legitimate fireworks factories in Bocaue, Bulacan alone.

The PNP has released the names and brands of allowed and prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

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.

RA 7183 and EO 28 enumerate the firecrackers which are regulated for sale and use. These are Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Paper Caps, Pulling of Strings, Sky Rocket (Kwitis), Small “Triangulo, and 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 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, and other types of firecrackers with other brands/names equivalent to those that are prohibited.