MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) on Wednesday (November 13) released to the public the list of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

According to FEO acting director Rommil Mitra, they released the list to notify the public this early of the kinds of firecrackers and pyrotechnics that must not be sold in the market.

Included in the list are explosives that are overweight (more than 1/3 teaspoon or more than 0.2 grams); oversized; with fuse that is either short (burns out in less than 3 seconds) or long (burns for more than 6 seconds); imported and unlabeled; and with sulphur or phosphorous mixed in chlorates.

Meanwhile, the list of banned firecrackers includes:

• piccolo
• super lolo
• atomic triangle
• large judas belt
• large bawang
• pillbox
• bosa
• goodbye Philippines
• bin laden
• mother rocket
• lolo thunder
• coke in can
• atomic bomb
• five star
• pla-pla
• giant whistle bomb
• kabasi
• watusi

On the other hand, firecrackers that should be used inside the firecracker zone are as follows:

• baby rocket
• bawang
• el diablo
• judas belt
• paper caps
• pulling of strings
• sky rocket or kwitis
• small trianggulo

Pyrotechnics that are allowed to be used outside the firecracker zone:

• butterfly
• fountain
• jumbo regular at special
• luces
• mabuhay
• roman candle
• sparklers
• trompillo
• whistle devices

The PNO-FEO reminds the public to maintain safety by refraining from buying banned or prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

Mitra also warned that stores that will be caught selling the banned products will have their licenses revoked and their merchandise confiscated. (with details from Lea Ylagan) /mbmf

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Health (DOH) remind the public to avoid firecracker disasters in welcoming the new year.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said that they want to reduce the number of firecracker victims this year.

Last year, there were 463 recorded firecracker-related injuries, which was 164 lower than 627 cases in 2016.

“Mag-iingat lang. Ang common kasi yung puputok habang hawak pa or kinabukasan nagkaka-injuries din tayo kasi ang mga bata naman ay mamumulot, titingnan kung alin yung mga hindi pumutok tapos tsaka sila masasabugan. Kung sinindihan natin at ‘di sya sumabog hayaan na natin at wag na natin siyang balikan,” said Domingo.

Piccolo topped the list of the main causes of firecracker injury followed by kwitis and other unidentified firecrackers.

Manila had the highest number of firecracker-related injuries with 116 cases or 47% while Quezon City had 30 or 12%.

Eighteen (18) cases were hand fractures; 80 were eye injuries; and 377 were firecracker burns.

Authorities remind that the banned firecrackers include Watusi, Piccolo, and over sized and loud firecrackers such as Super Lolo, Goodbye Philippines, Giant Whistle Bomb and others.

“We are intensifying our intelligence efforts para as much as possible ay hindi lang yung streets and also the source. Hindi mo kailangang gumawa ng paputok para hulihin ka by mere possession of those phosphorous item are already prohibited and punishable by law,” said PNP FEO Director PCSupt. Val De Leon.

De Leon said that if the public cannot be stopped on firecracker use, authorities recommend the use of approved firecrackers in designated firecracker zones in every barangays. —  Marje Pelayo (with reports from Bernard Dadis)

Fire cracker seller | Photo courtesy: Cheryl Ravelo-Gagalac/Reuters

PAMPANGA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) Region 3 is encouraging local government units (LGU) to impose a ban on sales and purchase of firecrackers to achieve its target of zero-casualties in the New Year celebrations.

“I think it’s reachable if you enforce it. Strictly enforce it – no buying, no selling,” said Jessie Fantone, the head of the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit in Region 3.

In a press conference on Tuesday (December 18), the regional health officials asked the cooperation of the local government unit to promote and support the agency’s ‘Iwas Paputok’ campaign.

“Although napansin nga natin na bumaba this year we would still like to thank the PNP DILG for being more strict in the implementation of selling. The DOH can only remind the people na its dangerous to their health,” Fantone said.

Since 2015, firecracker-related injuries in Region 3 has dropped from 655 to 539 in 2016 to about half or 390 in 2017.

In 2017, the highest number recorded was in Pampanga with 159 followed by Bulacan and Nueva Ecija with 87 and 46, respectively.

Most common injuries were firecracker burns and wounds at 88%, with only 7% who suffered from eye injuries.

Meanwhile, the DOH-Region 3 will impose a code white alert beginning December 21, 2018 to January 2, 2019.

This means that hospitals will be closely monitoring firecracker-related incidents and will be on call in case of firecracker-related emergencies.

“We have standby teams in case magkaroon ng eventualities, mass casualty incident and we have available resources at our emergency rooms po sa lahat ng DOH Hospitals to manage injuries po pwedeng dalhin sa ating DOH hospitals,” said Rosanna Rosell, Representative for DOH-DRRMH Program.

The DOH reminds victims of firecrackers to wash the wound properly with clean water and immediately go to the nearest hospital for proper medical attention. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Leslie Huidem)