AUTHORITIES on Wednesday December 18, 2024 discouraged the public from purchasing fireworks and firecrackers online due to safety standards and quality control concerns.

During the inspection in Bocaue, Bulacan, the country’s fireworks capital, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil urged the public to ensure that they purchase only fireworks fireworks and firecrackers, especially before the traditional New Year celebration, from legitimate manufacturers and dealers to ensure their safety and that of their families.

The PNP identified the following firecrackers as illegal:

*Piccolo

*Super Lolo

*Atomic triangle

*Large Judas belt

*Great Bawang

*Casemate

*Bosa

*Goodbye Philippines

*Bin Laden

*Mother Rocket

*Lolo Thunder

*Coke in a can

*Atomic bomb

*Five stars

*Pla-Pla

*Giant whistle bomb

*Goodbye Napoleon

*Hello Colombia

*Goodbye From Lima

*Great Yolande

*King Kong

*Goodbye Bading

*Kabasi

*Hamas

*Watusi

These illegal firecrackers are usually overweight, meaning they contain more than 1/3 teaspoon or more than 0.2 grams of explosives and do not have the proper markings, including address and name. manufacturer name.

The standard fuse of a firecracker or fireworks display should also burn no less than three seconds but no more than six seconds.

Marbil said police would carry out regular inspections and monitoring to prevent the sale of illegal firecrackers.

“We will confiscate. Meron na kaming listahan alam na po ng mga pulis natin yan when we inspect kasi yun ‘yung nagsisimula ng sunog. e. Alam niyo, the Hindi language disgrasya the national problem, pati sunog. Marami nasusunog kapag January yang is illegal for you,” Marbil said.

(We will confiscate. We already have a list, and our police are aware of it when we inspect because that is what causes the fires. You know, we are not only dealing with accidents, but also with fires. A lot of (Fires occur in January because of these illegal activities.)

PNP Civil Security Group Director Gen. Leo Francisco also warned against the sale of firecrackers and fireworks online.

“Online sale is prohibited by law in relation to these firecrackers…Very clear in hindi natin ma-ensure ‘yung safety and ‘yung standard nung binebenta online, so hindi natin makita kung saan ito nagmula, hindi natin makikita kung ito is standard ba This required national law,” Francisco said.

(Online sales are prohibited by law when it comes to these firecrackers… It is very clear that we cannot guarantee the safety and quality of what is sold online, because we cannot see where it comes from, and we cannot verify whether it meets the standards required by our law.)

Francisco said they are currently coordinating with online merchants, especially Shopee and Lazada, which are usually used by illegal fireworks sellers.

He said the illegal sale of firecrackers not only poses health threats but also seriously affects legitimate manufacturers and the industry as a whole.

Marbil said they are also constantly monitoring illegal fireworks manufacturers. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)