Firecrackers: Under Fire

A special report on Cebu’s firecracker industry

Setting off firecrackers is dangerous because it can hurt, or worse, it can kill people. However, despite the risks, there are still many people who use firecrackers during celebrations such as Christmas and New Year.

A firecracker is a small explosive device designed to produce a loud noise similar to a shot coming from a firearm. Firecrackers have wicks and are heavily wrapped in a paper casing.

DOH Campaign

The Department of Health (DOH) has repeatedly discouraged the public from using firecrackers to welcome Christmas and New Year, especially after the injuries and deaths that these explosives have caused through the years. In fact, the cities of Davao and Olongapo ban the use of such explosives.

The DOH campaign against the use of firecrackers has been proven effective with the decreasing number of firecracker victims in the past few years. DOH officials, however, are still not satisfied with the statistics and would want people to stop using firecrackers completely.

Firecrackers are widely available throughout the country, except in the cities of Olongapo and Davao. They are not illegal per se, but the use of this kind of explosives is regulated by the government to prevent injuries and deaths.

It is the manufacture, sale, storage and the use of firecrackers that are subject to laws to ensure the safety of the public.

Origins

The use of firecrackers originated in China. Setting off firecrackers and fireworks are common during holidays or festivals in China such as the centuries-old Spring Festival. Legend says that an evil beast named Nian assaulted humans every Lunar New Year’s eve in villages in ancient times.

Eventually, the villagers managed to scare the Nian away by setting off firecrackers, from which the traditional festival custom evolved. There are also stories, however, that speak of a Chinese cook who accidentally mixed potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal and, when he lighted the mixed ingredients, a mass of colorful flames burst.

The Industry

The firecracker industry in the Philippines reportedly started in Bulacan. Until now, Bulacan is still very famous in the firecracker and pyrotechnics-making industry.

It was reported that a certain Valentin Sta. Ana first learned the craft of making firecrackers from the parish priest in Santa Maria town, Bulacan in 1867, while the country was still under the Spanish regime.

Valentin later passed on his skill to his children and grandchildren. The Sta. Ana family, until now, still operates a firecracker business in Bulacan.

Cebu’s ‘Father of Firecrackers’

In Cebu, Barangay Babag in Lapu-lapu City is famous, even to residents in other places in the Visayas and Mindanao, because of its firecracker industry that was pioneered by Julian Pongasi in the early 50s.

This writer was able to interview Pongasi before he died last year at the age of 78. Pongasi was proud that he pioneered the firecracker business in the entire island of Mactan, where Barangay Babag is located.

More often than not, the people that Pongasi hired to work for him in his firecracker factory would leave and start their own firecraker-making business after they learn the craft.

“Dili g’yud kadto dawo si Julian, manudlo g’yud kadto siya aron kuno mabilin niya ang iyang nahibaw-an,” said Pongasi’s wife Grace, who used to be a councilwoman of Barangay Babag.

Risking Life and Limb

Pongasi was a meticulous person who placed a lot of importance on the safety of his workers, and of his business. This is the reason why his firecracker manufacturing business never experienced tragic accidents.

It is a different story, however, for clandestine firecracker factories scattered in Barangay Babag.

Statistics

Just two weeks ago, three workers of an illegal firecracker factory in Sitio Radar in Barangay Babag suffered burns in their bodies when the firecrackers they were working on exploded.

In 2006, a female worker of a clandestine firecracker factory died when a drum filled with gunpowder exploded.

In November 10, 2005, a cigarette butt that was accidentally thrown by a person sparked and triggered a huge explosion in a small house that was also used as a clandestine firecracker factory killing two persons – Jay-R Bontilao and Mary Kris Berdon — and injuring several others.

While the law strictly prohibits the manufacturing of firecrackers in residential areas, illegal firecracker manufacturers usually operate in their backyards, and sometimes, even in their very own homes.

In November 12, 2004, nine-year-old Restituto Tangayan Jr. also died in Babag because of severe injuries caused by a firecracker blast inside their house. His mother and brother sustained injuries.

Records at Camp Crame show that firecracker-related accidents are also happening in other firecracker factories of the country, including in Bulacan.

At least 25 people were injured in Sampaloc Village, San Rafael town in Bulacan when a fire, followed by a blast, razed five work areas owned by Dragon Fireworks Inc. on June 13, 2008.

In Compostela Valley in Mindanao, a municipal councilor was rushed to the hospital when the 300 pieces of firecrackers that he purchased to celebrate the New Year accidentally exploded on December 27, 2007.

DOH reported that there were 1,279 firecracker-related injuries in 2000, then it went down to 629 in 2001 because of the massive information drive against the use of firecrackers. The figure continues to decrease to 530 in 2002 and 590 in 2003. In 2004, there were 548 firecracker-related injuries and 582 in 2005.

One of the major firecracker-related incidents happened in Barangay Turo in Bocaue, Bulacan in December 31, 2004 when seven people died and dozens of houses and stores destroyed after a fire broke out along a strip of stalls selling firecrackers.

Still in Bocaue, a firecracker factory also exploded in December 30, 1988 killing 12 persons and wounding several others.

In Lucena City, 18 people also died at a public market in December 31, 2003 when a firecracker vendor set off a massive blaze by testing his wares too close to his storeroom.

Law Enforcement

Every year, law enforcement authorities conduct a series of seminars for those who engage in the firecracker manufacturing business, reminding them to be more careful to avoid accidents that may claim their own lives and that of their customers.

Barangay Babag Councilman Arsenio Berdin said there are over 100 families in their barangay who are engaged in the firecracker business, but hundreds of others also work as support staff, including women, but only for the non-hazardous jobs that does not deal with explosives. Berdin admitted that there are also minors who are working in the illegal firecracker factories in the barangay.

While legitimate firecracker makers can purchase explosives for their business, authorities are puzzled how those who are in the business illegally get their supplies.

RA No.7183

Republic Act 7183, which regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firecrackers, and other pyrotechnic devices, was enacted in January 30, 1992 or 21 years ago. The government, however, failed to strictly implement this law.

One of the provisions of RA 7183 is for local government units like cities and municipalities to designate an area where firecracker factories may be established. This area should also be 300 meters away from the nearest residential units.

However, the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) in Camp Crame – the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – granted licenses to firecracker manufacturers even if their factories are situated in residential areas.

This is true in the case of the factories in Lapu-Lapu City. Of the four licensed firecracker manufacturers in Barangay Babag, only JP Fireworks, owned by the late Julian Pongasi, considered as the “Father of Firecrackers” in Lapu-Lapu, and his wife Grace, have complied with the 300-meter provision of the law.

The Pongasi factories are located in the family’s fish ponds to minimize danger in case of accidents. “Gituyo namo nga gilagyo ang factory kay aron kon may aksidente dili daku ang kadaut,” Grace Pongasi said.

The other factories, Avila Firecracker Pyrotechnic Manufacturing; Juliet M. Wahing Pyrotechnics Manufacturing and; EB & A Fireworks Industry are within the prohibited zone. Their permits to manufacture firecrackers will expire on January 31, 2014.

Mario Avila of Avila Firecracker Pyrotechnic Manufacturing explained that he complied with all the provisions of the law except the one that required the factory to be at least 300 meters away from a residential area.

Kana ra g’yud maoy lisud kaayo tumanon kay asa man kami maghimo og factory nga nalukop-lukop na man ang mga lugar dinhi nga dunay nagpuyo,” said Avila, whose factory is just in front of his house in Sitio Radar.

Police Endorsement

It is the local police office that makes the endorsement for the approval of permits. The Firearms and Explosives Office (FED) approves all permit applications nationwide.

Records at the Firearms and Explosives Section of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 show that aside from the four licensed firecracker manufacturers in Babag, Camp Crame also granted a license to WOW Fireworks in Barangay Sta. Felomina, Alboquerque, Bohol.

There are two firecracker makers from Lapu-Lapu City that are still awaiting Camp Crame’s approval of their permits.

But while there are those who really make an effort to secure permits and follow the law, there are also those who just ignore the authorities. In Barangay Babag alone, there are over a hundred families who engage in firecracker manufacturing sans permits.

A Question of Supplies

After securing a permit from Camp Crame, firecracker manufacturers are already allowed to purchase the chemicals needed for their business. Explosives dealers are not allowed to sell these chemicals to those who do not have a license.

But Avila disclosed that somebody provides explosives supplies to the illegal firecracker manufacturers in Barangay Babag, withholding the name of the alleged supplier.

Since the enactment of Republic Act 7183 in 1992, no one has been arrested yet for the illegal sale of explosives supplies to the illegal firecracker manufacturers in Barangay Babag.

Pongasi admitted that she knows about the illegal activities of her fellow firecracker manufacturers but she does not want to expose them. “Malooy man pud ta gud kay ila man ‘sab na nga panginabuhian,” she said.

The talk among those involved in the industry is that the illegal firecracker makers sell their finished products to the one who supplied them the explosives, who in turn will be the ones to sell the firecrackers to buyers from other provinces.

There are different ways to earn in the firecracker manufacturing industry.

In Barangay Babag, there are women who earn up to P500 a day by selling rolled newspaper to firecracker manufacturers. These rolled pieces of paper are used for firecrackers like “Bawang” and “Hotdog.”

Firecracker manufacturers would buy 1,000 pieces of rolled newspaper pages for P200. “Makakwarta ‘sab sila kay paliton man namo ang ilang mga linukot nga papel,” said Avila of Avila Firecracker and Pyrotechnics Manufacturing.

Other Provisions of RA 7183

The law requires firecracker manufacturers to put labels on their products so that the source of the explosives can be easily identified.

The law also prohibits the transport of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics products through public transport for safety reasons.

If the explosives are transported by boat, the cargo should be properly marked and the shipper should inform the ship officials of its contents.

But again, this is not strictly implemented by the authorities because some of the buyers of explosives just ride on passenger jeepneys and tricycles.

While the police had warned that errant fireworks manufacturers, traders or vendors selling banned explosives will face imprisonment and cancellation of their business license, this, too, is not strictly enforced.

The law only allows the manufacture and sale of firecrackers like Baby Rocket, Bawang, Small Triangulo, Pulling Bomb, Paper Cups, El Diablo, Judas Belt, and Sky Rocket or Kwitis with gunpowder content that does not exceed 1/3 of a teaspoon.

When this author visited Sitio Radar to interview the firecracker makers, a series of loud explosions were heard. “Ga-testing na sila kon kusog ba mobuto ang ilang gihimo,” said Pongasi.

Republic Act 7183 also allows the manufacture of watusi, a small red stick usually ignited by friction to produce a crackling sound.

Sanction for Offenders

Violators of the law that regulates the manufacture and sale of unauthorized explosives products have to pay a fine of P30,000 and face imprisonment of up to a year, aside from the cancellation of license and business permit, and confiscation of stocks.

The government, particularly the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also failed to act on the hiring of minors in clandestine firecracker factories. Camp Crame officials conducted a seminar in Cebu City last Sept. 27 and warned the firecracker makers against hiring minors.

Safety First

During the safety seminar for the stakeholders of the firecracker industry in Central and Eastern Visayas, held at a hotel in Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Paz Radaza asked police officials and other concerned government agencies to ensure the safety of the firecracker makers in Barangay Babag.

“Every industry has risks. Building a house, making boats or driving a truck has risks. It is up to us to be responsible in putting in place safety mechanisms to minimize the risk of an accident,” the mayor said.

Since the holiday season is fast approaching, Radaza said, “We have to double time to provide the firecracker makers the knowledge to keep their manufacturing practices safe.”

She urged the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to intensify inspections on fireworks factories in order to prevent more accidents as she aims for a zero casualty during this year’s holiday season.