LAOAG, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – To ensure safety during this upcoming New Year celebration, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Ilocos Norte is reminding consumers to buy legal pyrotechnics to avoid firecracker-related accidents.
Dominador Alberto, officer-in-charge of the Consumer Protection Division of DTI-Ilocos Norte, reiterated to the public to look for the Philippine Standard (PS) mark on the firecrackers they buy to ensure that the products are legal, safe to use, and have undergone safety tests.
The PS mark is a certification issued by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) which serves as the consumers’ guide and assurance that what they purchase are certified quality and safety products conforming to the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS).
The PS mark is the globe-shaped sticker located on the packaging of goods which has a check inside it with the license number at the bottom.
Consumers can check the authenticity of the PS mark in the list of legal fireworks and firecrackers on the DTI-BPS website: [email protected].
Aside from the PS mark, consumers must also check the product packaging if the manufacturing details are correct like the name of the firecracker, instructions on how to properly handle and light the firecracker, safety instructions, name, address, and contact number of the manufacturers.
He added that imported fireworks are also banned in the country.
“Available naman to the public ang mga listahan ng mga legal na firecrackers. Para sa mga consumers, lalo na sa mga vendors, sana kung ano lang ‘yong legal na pwedeng ibenta, ‘yon lang ang ibenta. If ever na makakita ang mga mamimili ng mga iligal na firecrackers, maaari ay i-report agad ito sa amin o sa pulis upang ma-confiscate,” Alberto said.
(“The list of legal firecrackers is available to the public. For consumers, especially to the vendors, only sell legal products. If buyers ever see illegal firecrackers, they can report it to us or the police immediately to be confiscated,” Alberto said.)
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) have started their inspection activities among firecracker vendors in the province to ensure that they are not selling illegal products and are following fire safety protocols.
Under the Republic Act No. 7183 or the law on pyrotechnic devices, the following firecrackers are illegal to sell – watusi or dancing firecracker, piccolo, pop pop, Super Lolo, boga, big Judah’s belt, Goodbye Philippines, Mother Rockets, Lolo Thunder, pillbox, Big Bawang, kwiton, kabasi, Atomic Bomb, five star, pla-pla, og, giant whistle bomb, and unlabeled firecrackers.
Legal firecrackers include Butterfly, Fountain, Luces, Mabuhay, Roman Candle, Sparklers, Trompillo, whistle devices, and all types of pyrotechnic devices.
Meanwhile, regulated firecrackers include Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Juda’s Belt, Paper caps, Pulling of Strings, Sky Rocket, small “Triangulo,” and other types of firecrackers that are not oversized, and not overweight. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
Dominador Alberto, officer-in-charge of the Consumer Protection Division of DTI Ilocos Norte on the line for an interview during his guesting at the PIA Ilocos Norte’s “Danggay iti Panagdur-as” radio program to discuss safety reminders on buying firecrackers for the upcoming New Year celebration. (EJFG)
