FIREWORKS makers thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for recalling orders to impose a nationwide ban on firecrackers because of its impact on workers and investors in the industry.
“We deeply appreciate the President’s decision,” Philippine Fireworks Association president Joven Ong said, praising Duterte for balancing the interests of business, labor, other industry stakeholders and the general public.
Aside from the Presidential reprieve on a nationwide ban on all forms of fireworks, workers in Bulacan’s firecracker industry were very happy over the news that the Department of Labor and Employment has lifted a work stoppage order on 48 firecracker stores and factories after they were found to have complied with safety standards.
Forty other establishments that were suspended last month are undergoing assessment, the DoLE said in a statement.
All in all 48 establishments can continue operation guaranteeing employment for tens of thousands of people relying on the industry for a living.
In this regard, Ong urged regulatory agencies and law enforcers to follow the presidential directive as well as the department order.
“I just got word that some provincial PNP, BFP and LGU units are not issuing permits which they normally did in the past. The president has already said that he will allow selling this year but it seems that the rest of the people in government didn’t get the directive,” Ong said.
He stressed that “the whole industry is in danger. A lot of people’s livelihood is in danger.”
“The legal industry is being given a hard time to get all the permits they are required to get, while not a single illegal firework is being caught. As a result, more people will be forced to buy from those illegals who do not get permits and sell smuggled fireworks instead of the legal companies who comply with rules and regulations,” he said.
He said Department of Health is not concentrating on how to tackle the root causes of fireworks related injuries and is instead concentrating on eradicating the legal fireworks industry and the source of livelihood for thousands of our countrymen.
“Legal fireworks are the main reason why injuries have gone down all these years. I expect this year’s injuries to get worse if this continues,” he said.
“The DoH has to concentrate on the root causes of these injuries. Campaign for the wiping out of piccolo will take out almost 60 percent of injuries.” Piccolo, a kind of dangerous firecracker has historically been the single-biggest cause of yearly holiday injuries.