Honey Lacuna bans private homes from staging fireworks displays in Manila

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna on Thursday prohibited residents from staging fireworks displays at their homes, limiting the explosive sights and sounds of the New Year revelry to designated areas only.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 36 s. 2023, Lacuna imposed the ban to minimize, if not eliminate, the number of firecracker-related injuries especially during the holiday season.

"Private households are prohibited from staging their own fireworks displays," the EO read.

"The use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices shall be confined only to community fireworks displays with a valid permit," it added.

The order cited to need not just to protect physical structures and the general environment from fires and other risks, but to ensure the health and safety of Manileños and the general public during the display of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices.

"All fireworks to be conducted by natural and judicial persons in authorized and permitted staging areas in the City of Manila shall have special permits with application to be filed with, and issued by the Bureau of Permits to be applied for not less than three (3) days prior to the event," the EO read.

Ban on use, sale

Aside from limiting the spaces for firecrackers and pyrotechnics, Lacuna imposed a strict ban on the use, manufacture, sale, or distribution of such items which could endanger lives and cause injuries as determined by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Fireworks deemed unsuitable for sale to the public are not to be sold or used by consumers, except for licensed pyrotechnicians and/or fireworks display operators only.

Persons who are granted permits are responsible for ensuring that a fire truck and security guards are onsite during the event. They are also obliged to properly dispose waste fragments from the fireworks display, and to faithfully comply with other conditions of their permit.

As for violators of the guidelines, the EO cited Republic Act 7183, which provides that, "Any person who manufactures, sells, distributes, or uses firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in violation of [the Act] shall be made to pay a fine of at least P20,000 but not more than P30,000 or imprisoned for at least six months but not more than one year or both at the discretion of the court."

They also face revocation of their licenses and business permits, on top of charges and penalties for violating fire safety regulations.

Meanwhile, the EO restricted the allowable firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in the community fireworks displays to the following:

Firecrackers

• Baby rocket
• Bawang
• Small triangulo
• Pulling of strings
• Paper caps
• El diablo
• Judah's belt
• Sky rocket (kwitis)

Pyrotechnic devices

• Sparklers
• Luces
• Fountain
• Jumbo regular and special
• Mabuhay
• Roman candle
• Trompillo
• Airwolf
• Whistle device
• Butterfly
• All kinds of pyrotechnic devices (pailaw)

Other types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that comply with the allowable explosive content may also be used in the designated areas. — VDV, GMA Integrated News