BALITANG TOKSIK!

Toxic watchdog group BAN Toxics has raised concern over the early sale of firecrackers in the market. Five Star and Piccolo have been marked as two of the prohibited firecrackers under Republic Act 7183 and a major cause of firecracker-related injuries to children over the past years.

In a recent market monitoring conducted by BT Patrollers, the group photo-documented the prohibited firecrackers being sold by ambulant vendors along M. De Santos Street, Divisoria, Manila. Five Star was offered for sale at PHP 120 per pack of 10 pieces, while Piccolo was priced at PHP 180 to PHP 200 per pack.

Other firecrackers being sold are neither listed as permitted nor prohibited in accordance with RA 7183, the act regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

BAN Toxics has been calling on the government to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers to prevent injuries and to protect the health and safety of children.

“We call on DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla to support a “total ban” on firecrackers to reduce firecracker-related injuries in the country," said Thony Dizon, BAN Toxics Campaign and Advocacy Officer. The group further urges local government units to pass ordinances banning the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers.

According to the Department of Health (DOH) Fireworks-Related Injury Surveillance from December 21, 2023 until January 6, 2024, a total number of fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) in 2023 reached 609, or a 98 percent increase from the 307 in 2022.

“We call on the Philippine National Police to conduct on-site monitoring and confiscation of illegal and prohibited firecrackers and to increase the visibility of police officers in strategic market hubs known for unregulated sales of firecrackers and fireworks,” Dizon said.

Executive Order No. 28, issued by former President Rodrigo Duterte, authorizes the PNP and local chief executives to promulgate necessary rules and regulations on firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices within their territorial jurisdiction in conformity with national standards, rules, and regulations.

BAN Toxics, an advocate for a toxic-free and pollution-free society, is one among several groups pushing for the Department of Health's “zero” firecracker-related injury target.

“Children have the right to a safe and healthy environment; we must prioritize their needs and conditions and protect them from firecracker-related injuries and toxic chemical exposure,” the group added.