Firecracker retailers urge LGUs to speed up permit processing

The Philippine Pyrotechnic Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. (PPMDAI) on Monday asked the local government units (LGUs) to fast track the processing of their special permits ahead of the upcoming holidays.

PPMDAI president Lea Alapide said while they are grateful that they are allowed to sell legal fireworks, lots of them are still yet to process their permits with the Philippine National Police (PNP) as several LGU executives decide “late” if they would issue regulations to grant them special permits to sell.

“We are trying to ask a little a consideration that while it is true na tatlo hanggang apat na araw lang naman ang pagtitinda ng retailers, ‘yung pagkuha ng permit, nahihirapan po (we only sell for three or four days, it is hard for us to get permits),” she said.

“Baka naman po pwedeng bigyan ng konting luwag na ahead of time sila magbayad para mai-proseso sa PNP naman ‘yung mga lisesnya. ‘Yon po ang nagiging conflict,” she added.

(We are asking the LGUs to give us some allowance to process our licenses with PNP as that is our problem right now.)

On January 5, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would allow fireworks vendors in Bocaue town in Bulacan to sell their products to local government units and policemen only in a bid to keep them in business.

He said that only community firecracker displays staged by local authorities will be allowed in the upcoming holiday season to avoid fireworks-related injuries and deaths.

The PNP thus issued on Tuesday the operational guidelines for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics to ensure a safe and peaceful holiday celebration.

“Kami naman po ay kaisa nila doon sa pagbabawal ng ilegal. Ever since, talagang ayaw naman din namin ‘yung mga malalakas na dating nakakalusot. Kaisa namin ang gobyerno rin sa pagmamanman sa mga ilegal na ‘yan,” Alapide said.

(We are one with the government in banning illegal firecrackers. Ever since, we don’t like the use of such strong firecrackers that were illegally sold.)

PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said they will implement the guidelines based on Executive Order (EO) No. 28 that provides for the Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices, which confines the use of firecrackers to community fireworks displays that would be supervised by a trained person licensed by the PNP.

Alapide also asked the PNP’s help in tracking down illegal firecracker vendors and asked buyers to get their supply from those who have license to sell them.

“Ako na po ‘yung una na nakikiusap sa hanay ng PNP because I don’t have the police power, but I can only inform ‘yung mga nasa PNP at DTI—‘yan ang kinakatok namin na tulungan kami,” she said.

(I’m the first to ask the PNP to help us track illegal vendors as I don’t have the police power. I can only inform them and the DTI to help us.)

She added that firecrackers should not be sold in Divisoria, yet some illegal vendors do so.

Police in Divisoria already launched a crackdown on the sale of illegal firecrackers such as piccolo.

Last year, the Regional Peace and Order Council of the National Capital Region (NCR) issued a resolution recommending banning the use of firecrackers in Metro Manila during the holiday season.

However, several NCR cities instead regulated the use of fireworks to ensure the safety of residents.

Alapide added that since they are now considered as essential workers, all firework sellers in their lane in Bulacan are already fully vaccinated.—AOL, GMA News