Establish firecracker and pyrotechnic zones, LGUs told

By DILG Office of Public Affairs
December 15, 2011

MANILA  –  Establish “firecracker and pyrotechnic zones” where people may light firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in celebrating Christmas and the New Year.

Thus, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo on Thursday asked provincial governors, city and municipal mayors and punong barangays throughout the country in an effort to minimize casualties that goes with the revelry this holiday season especially on New Year’s Day.

“Let’s strive to minimize or even go for “zero casualties” in firecracker-related injuries and incidence of fire this Yuletide season,” Robredo said.

“And the idea of designating a specific firecracker and pyrotechnic area in a community could help a lot in attaining our objective,” he added.

The DILG secretary enjoined local chief executives to regulate the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in their respective localities as mandated by Republic Act 7183.

In his directive, Robredo urged local authorities to see to it that only the following types of firecrackers are manufactured, sold, distributed or used namely, baby rocket, “bawang,” small triangulo, pulling of string, paper cups, el Diablo, Judah’s belt, sky rocket (kwitis) and other types equivalent in explosive content.

For pyrotechnic devices, those that are allowed are sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo, mabuhay, Roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle device, butterfly, among others.