Watchdog asks PNP: Seize banned firecrackers

Toxicity watchdog BAN Toxics has raised the alarm over the sale of prohibited firecrackers as the Christmas season draws near.

During a recent market monitoring in Divisoria, Manila, the group said its members were able to buy four brands of banned firecrackers.

Among the prohibited firecrackers bought by BAN Toxics were Five Star, Whistle Bomb, Giant Bawang and Happy Ball.

BAN Toxics campaigner Thony Dizon urged Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin to order onsite inspection and confiscation of prohibited firecrackers in public markets.

In 2017, then president Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) 28 regulating the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

Under the EO, the PNP chief was authorized to determine what constitutes prohibited firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

EO 28 also allows the PNP to promulgate rules necessary to regulate and control the use of firecrackers.

Last year, the PNP released the list of prohibited firecrackers. Among these are watusi, Piccolo, Poppop, Five Star, plapla, Lolo Thunder, Giant Bawang, Giant Whistle Bomb, Atomic Bomb, Super Lolo, Atomic Triangle, Goodbye Bading, largesize Judas Belt, Goodbye Philippines, Goodbye Delima, Bin Laden, Hello Columbia, Mother Rockets, Goodbye Napoles, Coke-in-Can, Super Yolanda, Pillbox, Mother Rockets, Boga, Kwiton and Kabasi.

Also banned were overweight and oversized firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, unlabeled locally made FCPD products, and other types of firecrackers with other brands equivalent to those that are prohibited.

“It is high time for the PNP to again issue the list of prohibited firecrackers to stop their manufacture, sale and distribution to prevent firecracker-related injuries as well as toxic exposure among children,” Dizon said.

The Department of Health (DOH) had been advocating against the use of firecrackers during the holiday season, warning that these have high concentration of toxic chemicals such as cadmium, lead, chromium, aluminum, nitrates, nitrite, phosphates, sulfates, carbon monoxide and sulphur.

The DOH said exposure to these toxic chemicals may potentially damage the nervous and respiratory systems.

“We support the Iwas Paputok campaign of the DOH since it is aligned with our toxics-free and waste-free Yuletide celebration advocacy,” BAN Toxics said.