MANILA, Philippines – Firecrackers are here to stay but with more restrictions on their manufacture, sale and use – at least based on what some lawmakers are proposing as amendments to the current law regulating the industry.

Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil said a total ban on the manufacture and sale of firecrackers would adversely affect the livelihood of thousands in Bulacan, the country’s firecracker capital.

Bataoil chairs the technical working group of the House of Representatives’ committee on public order and safety, which is working on amendments to RA 7183.

“Thousands of workers will be affected by total ban,” Bataoil told The STAR yesterday.

He said discussions on the proposed amendments would resume when Congress starts session anew on Jan. 25.

Bataoil said a consultative meeting was held last Dec 21 at the Provincial Capitol of Bulacan attended by various officials and industry stakeholders.

Based on his proposed measure, local government units shall identify a zone or designate an area in their respective jurisdictions where residents may use firecrackers or conduct fireworks display.

Such areas should have population of not more than 3,000, proximity of at least 50 meters to the nearest hospitals and fire stations, at least 100 meters away from schools and residential buildings as well as establishments selling highly flammable substances.

Such areas should also be at least 100 meters from electrical and communication facilities or structures.

Firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, based on proposals, shall bear labels indicating the name and address of their manufacturer and distributor, as well as warning instructions written in Filipino and English.

Firecrackers or other pyrotechnic devices shall not be sold to anyone below 18 years old.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government – through the PNP – shall be primarily responsible for the administration and enforcement of the proposed law.

Fire Safety Inspection Certificate issued by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shall be made pre-requisite for the issuance of license or permit from the PNP Firearms and Explosive Division to ensure that the manufacturer, dealer, distributor or reseller of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices have complied with the fire safety requirements of the existing rules and regulations of the Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514).

Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) lifted a work stoppage order on a group of firecracker establishments following their compliance with occupational safety and health standards.

Allowed to resume operations were 331 establishments in the Central Visayas region and in Negros Island region.

Earlier, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III also lifted a similar order on 493 other establishments in Luzon and the Visayas, bringing the total number of compliant establishments to 824.

“Our conditions are simple. Comply with the general labor standards then you can go back to normal business operations. Our regional offices have been conducting thorough assessment and these establishments have shown compliance with pertinent labor laws and regulations,” he said.

Bello noted that 153 of these establishments are in Bulacan, which is known as the fireworks capital of the Philippines.

“Despite calls for firecrackers ban, we don’t want to kill the industry. As long as they comply with major labor and occupational safety and health standards, the labor department will always let them operate,” he added.

According to Bello, the establishments were issued Philippine National Police (PNP) clearance, Fire Safety Inspection certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Certificate of Attendance of Workers at the Safety Awareness Training conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC).

Early this month, DOLE issued work stoppage orders on all establishments engaged in the manufacture and sale of pyrotechnics and firecrackers nationwide, following explosions at fireworks and pyrotechnic shops in Bulacan in early December. Five people died and 30 were injured in the accidents. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Evelyn Macairan, Gilbert Bayoran, Ric Sapnu