MANILA - The Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) has issued a warning against the following firecrackers, as the country prepares for the holiday season.
FEO Director Chief Supt. Valeriano De Leon said they issued the list early to inform the public about banned explosives and to check if they are still distributed in the market.
De Leon said overweight firecrackers with more than 0.2 grams or 1/3 teaspoon of explosives are not allowed.
Oversized firecrackers with short fuse or those that detonate in less than 3 seconds but not more than 6 seconds are also prohibited.
Also included in the ban are those without labels and firecrackers that contain sulfur or phosphorus combined with chlorates.
Banned firecrackers:
Watusi, 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 and kabasi.
Firecrackers allowed to be used within barangay firecracker zones:
Baby rocket, bawang, el diablo, judas belt, paper cups, pulling of strings, sky rocket or ‘kwitis’ and small trianggulo.
Pyrotechnics allowed to be used outside the firecracker zones:
Butterfly, fountain, jumbo regular and special luces, mabuhay, roman candle, sparklers, trompillo, whistle devices and others.
FEO said some manufacturers change the names of the firecrackers to circumvent the ban.
It reminded the public not to buy prohibited firecrackers to prevent accidents and injuries.
Defective firecrackers and pyrotechnics may also be returned to their manufacturers, the FEO said.
“Pwedeng habulin, dapat naka-label yon kung sino ang gumawa noon. Maganda rin na kailangan hingi rin silang resibo, para may pruweba ka na yung item na yon was purchased in a particular store,” De Leon said.
(It can be returned, the maker of the firecracker should be in the label. Ask for a receipt also, so you have proof that the item was purchased in a particular store.)
Manufacturers and distributors who will be caught selling prohibited explosives will have their licenses revoked and the banned goods will be immediately confiscated.