Group of firecracker businessmen welcome DOLE’s work stoppage order

The Philippine Fireworks Association (PFA) on Friday welcomed the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) order to stop work in all establishments in the Philippines engaged in the sale and manufacture of pyrotechnics and firecrackers.

"Natutuwa nga kami sa mabilis na aksiyon ng ating Labor secretary kasi alam naman po nating lahat, lahat po ng pabrika sa Pilipinas, hindi lang sa paputok, dapat po talaga binibisita ng DOLE 'yan," PFA Head Joven Ong said in an interview with "Balitanghali."

In the work stoppage order on November 24, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said there was a grave and imminent danger to workers in these shops following the deadly firecracker factory incidents in October and November.

On October 12, 2016, two persons were killed and 24 others were injured when an explosion occurred in a group of fireworks shops in Barangay Biñang 1st, Bocaue, Bulacan.

On November 23, three persons were killed and six others were wounded in an explosion at AA Firecracker Manufacturing in Sitio Bangka-Bangkaan, Barangay Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

"Kailangan tinitignan na ang lahat ng pabrika ay up to standards, safety standards. Kami ay natutuwa kasi ang fireworks industry lagi na nga lang po kung minsan nagkakaroon ng ganito dahil nga po ang implementation ng batas hindi po naayon sa gusto naming international standard," Ong said.

"Kami ay natutuwa, wag naman sana kami ma-ban, kasi these are instances bagaman mayron ganyan ng mga nangyayari, these are a wake-up call to everybody na dapat talaga na i-implement ng tama yung batas," he added.

Ong said that concerned government agencies overseeing the safety of workers as well as product standards such the DOLE, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Bureau of Customs must a concerted effort to address the issues of the fireworks industry.

"Sa pananaw ng inspecting teams iba yung nakikita nila, sa nakikita ng DOLE... Sabihin natin sa safety hazard assessment ng pabrika, doon nila makikita, kaya mas gusto namin nga na concerted effort sana hindi yung iisang agency lang ang tumitingin kundi marami po," Ong said.

"Dapat inter-agency ang pag monitor dito sa industry namin kasi nakikita natin na mayroong na-lilisensiyahan na wala naman sa standards," he added. —John Ted Cordero/NB, GMA News