CITY OF MALOLOS – Fireworks stakeholders have confirmed the presence of illegal imported pyrotechnic devices in the local market, with these products reportedly being relabeled to appear as locally made.

The stakeholders are advocating for process audits instead of just product audits to verify if the manufacturers specified on the labels have the capability to produce the pyrotechnic devices.

Joven Ong, president of the Philippine Fireworks Association, stated that based on their monitoring, illegal imported finished pyrotechnic devices are being discreetly sold in the local market as the New Year celebrations approach.

Ong suggested that the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) should conduct process audits on pyrotechnic devices issued with product standard marks, rather than relying solely on product audits.

According to Ong, manufacturers of allegedly local pyrotechnic devices should demonstrate their manufacturing processes and show how their equipment is capable of producing the said products.

He cited that conducting product audit of the pyrotechnic devices simply shows what the capabilities of these products are, but it doesn’t show how these are being manufactured.

He pointed out that the presence of local product standard seals on pyrotechnic devices does not necessarily confirm that these are locally made. Ong emphasized that companies producing these products should demonstrate their manufacturing processes at their plant sites to dispel suspicions that these items are imported and merely relabeled as local products.

Meanwhile, Librada Estrella, of the consumer protection division of DTI Bulacan, told ARKIPELAGO NEWS BULACAN that there are 15 fireworks manufacturers with valid PS licenses, 13 of which are located in Bulacan.

An information guide from the Bulacan Police Public Information Office referenced the 2012 revised implementing rules and regulations governing the administration and enforcement of Republic Act 7183, also known as An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution, and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices. The guidelines highlight that finished imported pyrotechnic devices are prohibited.

The guideline states: “Any person who manufactures, sells, distributes, or uses firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in violation of the provisions of the implementing rules and regulations shall be punished by a fine of not less than P20,000 nor more than P30,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than one year or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court, in addition to the cancellation of his license and business permit and confiscation by the government of his inventory stock.”

📷 Mon Lazaro