6 November 2026, Quezon City, Philippines. Following a deadly explosion in Pangasinan that killed five people, including two minors, the environmental watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition appealed to local government, police, and barangay officials to inspect their communities for illegal firecracker and firework factories.
On November 4 at around 7:30 pm, an unlicensed firecracker factory in the municipality of Malasiqui caught fire, killing three adults and two minors.
The EcoWaste Coalition called on the authorities to shut down illicit factories to forestall accidental blasts. The watchdog group has conducted an anti-injury and anti-pollution “Iwas Paputoxic” advocacy against firecrackers and fireworks since 2006, supporting the Department of Health-led “Iwas Paputok” campaign.
“We urge local government and police forces to prevent illegal factories producing firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices from operating in their jurisdictions,” stated Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“Barangay leaders are key to spotting and reporting such illegal operations in their communities to the authorities,” she added.
“Because these illegal operations bypass mandatory safety standards and requirements, these unauthorized facilities present an imminent hazard that can threaten the lives and well-being of workers and residents,” she pointed out.
Republic Act No. 7183 regulates and controls the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
As stated in Section 4 on license and permit requirements: “Any person desiring to manufacture, sell or distribute fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices shall file his application for the issuance of license or business permit with the Chief of the PNP, through the provincial director of the province where the business or project is located.”
Moreover, violators of the law “shall be punished by a fine of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) nor more than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.”
“A crackdown on the illegal manufacture, importation, distribution, sale and use of firecrackers and fireworks ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities will help in preventing and reducing injuries and deaths, particularly those linked with contraband, poorly made, or oversized items,” said Lucero, stressing “even legal firecrackers and fireworks can cause serious injuries, contain hazardous substances, release toxic smoke, degrade air quality, and generate dangerous residual waste.”
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Reference:
https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/2925
