The Department of Labor and Employment said it would lift the work stoppage order it issued last week if all the 130 inspected firecracker manufacturers in Bulacan meet the required work, safety and health standards of the government.
Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said the department has started to inspect the manufacturers and retailers or dealers of pyrotechnics and firecrackers in Bulacan to see if they comply with occupational safety and health standards.
Bello had issued the work stoppage order to all pyrotechnics makers and vendors nationwide following recent explosions in fireworks shops in Bulacan that killed five people and injured 30 others.
“The DoLE Regional Office in Region 3 will make assessment on the compliance of these establishments. They will check the compliance of the local establishments with the safety and health standards which will serve as basis for the agency to lift or not the work stoppage order,” Bello said.
He said that if all requirements are complied with, the DoLE Regional Director, with recommendations from the BFP and PNP, will recommend lifting the stoppage order for the compliant establishment.
The establishments are composed of 40 manufacturers and 90 retailer-dealers of firecrackers in the towns of Sta. Maria and Bocaue in Bulacan. The DoLE Regional Offices were directed to submit the report to Bello within the week.
If the establishment complies with the requirements, the Regional Office may recommend the lifting of the work stoppage order, Bello said.
The requirements are a certification from the Philippine National Police that the establishment or local government unit is compliant with the requirements provided by Republic Act 7183, or An Act Regulating The Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices; valid fire safety certification from the Bureau of Fire; one-day safety awareness training for all workers; and conduct of DOLE Joint Assessment.
Bello said all DOLE Regional Offices were instructed to coordinate with the LGUs, PNP, and BFP to implement the order strictly.