Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando has ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to conduct its own investigation on the explosion in a fireworks warehouse that injured 18 individuals in Bocaue, Bulacan on Thursday, June 15. Fernando announced his directive during the distribution of relief assistance to more than 100 families affected by the incident at the Barangay Bunducan-covered court in Bocaue, Bulacan on Friday, June 16. "Lagi na lang bang ganun tuwing magkasunog ay faulty wiring ang dahilan? Paano nagkaroon ng imbakan o gawaan ng paputok sa gitna ng mga kabahayan? (Is it always going to be like this, every time there's a fire, faulty wiring is the cause? How a storage or fireworks factory was built in the middle of the residential area?.)  Photo caption: Governor Daniel R. Fernando (standing from right) and Vice Gov. Alex C. Castro (standing second from right) with Provincial Social Welfare Development Office head Rowena Joson-Tiongson (standing in front with a microphone) prepare each half sack of rice,  pack of clothes, emergency box of sleeping mats, blankets, pillows, and mosquito nets for the more than 100 families who are victims of the fire or fireworks explosion last Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Barangay Bunducan, Bocaue, Bulacan. (Freddie C. Velez)

The Bulacan governor said investigators gave him their report about the fire or fireworks explosion, but he's not satisfied with the report stating that the incident was caused by faulty electrical wiring. Fernando ordered the PDRRMO officer-in-charge, retired Col. Manuel Lukban Jr., to conduct their own investigation regarding the explosion of fireworks stored in the warehouse, and give him the true and exact details of the incident. Fernando and Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, together with Provincial Social Welfare Development Office head Rowena Joson-Tiongson, gave each of the more than 100 families affected by the fire a half sack of rice, a pack of clothes, an emergency box consisting of sleeping mats, blankets, pillows, and mosquito nets. Each has also received personal financial cash assistance from Fernando and Castro, while another financial assistance is also being worked on depending on the damage caused for each household. Sixteen houses were totally damaged, seven were partially damaged, and 94 were slightly damage during the incident. Families whose houses were totally damaged will receive P10,000 cash while those with partially damaged houses will receive P5,000. Vice Gov. Castro, in his message, said despite the 18 injury cases in the fire incident he was still thankful because no one died. "Ang mga sugat ay gumagaling subali't kapag buhay ang nawala hindi na ito kailanman maibabalik," (Wounds can be healed but lost lives cannot be restored)," Castro said. Meanwhile, Fernando also said that because of the fire, the previous plan with members of the Provincial Pyrotechnics Regulatory Board (PPRB) to help people who wanted to get into the fireworks business has been affected. "Papaano pa namin ngayon ilalapit kay Pangulong Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. ang aming plano tungkol dito makaraan ang pagsabog ng diumano'y iligal na imbakan ng paputok dito," (How can we endorse now to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. our plans after the explosion of the alleged illegal storage of firecrackers here)," Fernando asked. The Bulacan governor said he is not tolerating any illegal activities. He urged every Bulakenyo to be vigilant, hoping that the recent incident will never happen again. He advised them to immediately report to his office any illegal activities in their area.