DOLE-7 to Recommend Lifting of Work Stoppage Order for Compliant Firecracker Makers

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 7 on Wednesday said it will recommend to the Labor secretary to lift the work stoppage order for compliant manufacturers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in Lapu-Lapu City, an official said.

DOLE-7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga issued this statement after meeting Tuesday with some 250 sellers, dealers and manufacturers of firecrackers in Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City, the center of the manufacture of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in Cebu.

Officials of the DOLE, together with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and police, held a dialogue Tuesday in the Babag gym, following the stoppage order of DOLE shutting down all firecracker and pyrotechnic companies in the country.

Some of the manufacturers and sellers asked DOLE not to include them, saying they’ve been careful in handling their business and no major accident has been recorded in Babag, Lapu-Lapu City.

Sarcauga said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered DOLE regional offices to coordinate with the BFP, police and local government units (LGUs) and assess establishments that produce and sell firecrackers and pyrotechnics if they have complied with the safety standards.

“We will assess business establishments. If they are compliant then we will recommend the lifting of the stoppage order,” he said.

Sarcauga told the attendees to comply with the requirements of BFP, secure a clearance from the police and permits from the LGU, as well as comply with DOLE’s safety standards for the employees.

“The stoppage order is one way to ensure everyone’s safety,” he said.

Babag has been manufacturing and selling firecrackers for a couple of decades.

Babag Barangay Captain Epifania Augusto said this is the dominant livelihood of her constituents.

Five of the 10 puroks or sub-villages are directly affected by DOLE’s stoppage order.

These are Puroks Super Sunlight, Shooting Star, Rambo, Judas Belt and Five Star.

“The business is seasonal yet the stoppage order was issued during the “Ber” months when they were receiving several orders,” Augusto said.

Based on records, only two individuals and a corporation have a license to manufacturer in Babag.

Floredo Baraquil, president of Rambolet Pyro Corp. (RPC), said their 43 members hardly earned due to the stoppage order.

“Since I became the president, there has been no accident recorded during the production of firecrackers. I hope the stoppage order will not include us,” Baraquil said.

He said he has been reminding members to follow their safety rules and not to employ children.

He also told them the manufacturing station should be far from their houses.

RPC has also complied with the clearance and permits from the BFP, police and the LGU.

“The police told us to place the structure where the firecrackers is manufactured 300 meters away from the residential area. It was hard to comply because of the several subdivisions that have been constructed in the different areas,” Baraquil said. (PNA)LAP/EB/EDS