Although the use and sale of powerful firecrackers remained prohibited in the country, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday that consumer pyrotechnics (pailaw) may still be allowed in some areas depending if the concerned local government units (LGUs) will permit them to welcome the New Year.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that Executive Order No. 28 “authorized local government units (LGUs) to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations on firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices within their territorial jurisdiction in conformity with national standards, rules, and regulations.’’
“Therefore, as authorized by their respective ordinances and issuances, LGUs may or may not issue special permits for the sale of consumer pyrotechnics or “pailaw” in their respective jurisdictions,’’ Malaya said.
Malaya said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) named some of these as butterfly, fountain, jumbo regular and special, luces, mabuhay, roman candle, sparklers, trompillo, whistle device and other similar types of pailaw.
He also pointed out that the LGUs may also prohibit community fireworks display outside of malls and other establishments to prevent crowds as a measure against COVID-19.
But Malaya emphasized that the use and sale of oversized and dangerous firecrackers are still banned in the country.
He noted some of these include “overweight with more than 1/3 teaspoon or more than 0.2 gram of net explosive ingredients; oversized- like atomic big triangulo, super lolo, giant whistle bomb, etc; those with short fuse that should not burn less than three seconds but not more than six seconds; imported finished products; mixture of sulphur and/or phosphorous fused with chlorates and unlabelled locally made products.’’
Although some firecrackers may be small in size, Malaya stressed they remained dangerous.
To name a few, Malaya said some of these are watusi, piccolo, poppop, five star, pla-pla, lolo thunder, giant bawang, giant whistle bomb, atomic bomb, atomic triangle, large-size judas belt, goodbye delima, hello columbia, goodbye napoles, super yolanda, mother rockets.
The others include kwiton, super lolo, goodbye bading, goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, coke-in-can, pillbox, boga, kabasi and other similar firecrackers.
“The department reiterates that Executive Order No. 28 s. 2017 issued by President Duterte which strictly regulates the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics still stands,’’ Malaya said.
He added that the DILG has issued MC 2017-105 supplemented by MC 2017-168 to provide the implementing guidelines for EO No. 28.
Malaya disclosed that the PNP “has likewise issued an advisory to remind the public of the implementation of the said order.’’
With regard to pyrotechnics, Malaya said the PNP which is the primary agency that implements the said order, has announced in a Joint advisory dated December 16, 2020 that it will no longer process and issue special permits for community fireworks display in malls and other establishments.
“This is to discourage mass gatherings among the spectators as a measure against the transmission of COVID-19 this holiday season,’’ he added.
Nonetheless, Malaya according to the PNP said “they will respect the permits which were already granted prior to the issuance of the advisory.
“Please bear in mind, however, that EO No. 28 authorized local government units (LGUs) to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations on firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices within their territorial jurisdiction in conformity with national standards, rules, and regulations. Therefore, as authorized by their respective ordinances and issuances, LGUs may or may not issue special permits for the sale of consumer pyrotechnics or “pailaw” in their respective jurisdictions. LGUs may also prohibit community fireworks display outside of malls and other establishments to prevent crowds as a measure against COVID-19,’’ Malaya ended.