Bulacan Executives inspect fireworks stalls in Bocaue; appeal not to impose total ban on fireworks

SAFETY FIRST – BULACAN Governor Daniel Fernando (2nd left) with Engr. Celso Cruz, Chairman Emeritus of the Philippine Pyrotechnic Manufacturers and Dealers Assiciation Inc. (PPMDAI) (left), Bocaue Mayor Jose Santiago (2nd right) and Maricel Cruz, chief of the Provincial Public Affairs Office (PPAO) (right) conducted a fireworks stall inspection in Barangay Turo in Bocaue town on Wednesday morning to make sure that fireworks manufacturers and retailers follow the prohibition and regulation stated in RA 7183. (ELOI SAMONTE)

BULACAN – TO assure that the rules and regulations stated in Executive Order No. 28 and Republic Act No. 7183 are being observed by manufacturers, dealers and retailers of pyrotechnics and firecrackers amid the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando together with the Pyrotechnic Regulatory Board (PRB) led the ocular inspection in some pyrotechnic stalls in the town of Bocaue on Tuesday.

At the same time, the governor along with Bocaue Mayor Jose Santiago and Engr. Celso Cruz, Chairman Emeritus of the Philippine Pyrotechnic Manufacturers and Dealers Assiciation Inc. (PPMDAI) continue appealing to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte not to impose the total ban on sale and manufacturing of fireworks in the country by next year.

“This fireworks industry is a source of livelihood for many families not only in Bulacan, many of our countrymen will be affected and will lose their livelihood when the total ban is implemented so we continue to call on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to just regulate the law and not total ban, “Fernando said.

He hoped that the president would listen to them and study the matter carefully, which only requires a total prohibition because hundreds of thousands Filipinos who depend their livelihood resources on it will be severely affected if the fireworks industry eventually killed, Fernando said.

Even Senator Joel Villanueva expressed his support for Fernando appealing not to impose the nationwide ban on fireworks.

“If there is a regulatory problem not the total ban is the answer, There has to be a deeper study before we decide on regulating or banning firecrackers,” said Villanueva, Senate Committee Chair on labor, employment and human resources development.

Fernando was accompanied by PRB bodies including the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. (PPMDAI), Philippine Fireworks Association, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP) Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), Local Government Unit (LGU) and Technical. The Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) during the inspection.

Fernando said that the primary objective of the inspection is the safety of the public in line with the RA 7183.

The governor also assured that health protocols and guidelines of the IATF are being observed and implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Engr. Cruz said that the sale of fireworks in the market dropped by more than 50% due to public confusion over the implementation of the total ban wherein the pandemic also coincided.

It is learned that since the implementation of RA 7183 and the pandemic this year, more than 200,000 people who are dependent and workers in fireworks factories have been affected nationwide.

Although Bulacan officials regularly inspect fireworks and firecrackers manufacturers and dealers, he still called to the public to be vigilant and to report illegal dealers that would definitely affect the local industry, Fernando said.

Bulacan Police director Police Col. Lawrence Cajipe said that this year there are 21 licensed manufacturers and 88 licensed dealers in the Bulacan compare to 24 manufacturers and 94 dealers last year wherein he assured that those non-compliant also known as “colorums” will be arrested.

Cajipe warned the consumers to buy labeled products and from legitimate fireworks sellers only.

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