Police Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, head of the Firearms, Explosives Section and Security Guards in Region 7, said various seminars were conducted in Oriental Negros to acquaint manufacturers and dealers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics with the law banning firecrackers with explosive contents.

Aside from licenses issued to manufacturers and dealers, local retailers are also required to secure licenses to sell firecrackers, and only in designated firecracker zones, he said.

Lawas stressed that firecracker zones shall be determined by the local government units concerned.

He said that a firecracker, regardless of size, shall only contain not more than one-third of a teaspoon or 2.2 ounce in weight of black powder.

The police undertook several preparations, even as Negrenses are also preparing for the holidays, especially in welcoming the New Year with firecracker explosions on the belief that this will drive away the evil spirits.

A maximum of 25 kilograms of firecrackers will be displayed in stalls, to minimize the exposure of explosive materials in case of accidents, Lawas added.*JG

back to top