Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

REGISTRATION UNIT
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1626

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo
EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘A well-meaning newspaper columnist suggested an effective ban on firecrackers in order to
prevent mayhem resulting from the culmination of the New Year's celebration by most of the
people who have been used to buying firecrackers and pyrotechnics unmindful of their dangers
to life and limb.

This measure therefore attempts to second that proposal

Under this bills’ intent, violators will be imposed the higher penalties and fines amounting to no
less than P500,000 to not more than P1,500,000 if found guilty of the manufacture and/or sale
of what are defined as “unsafe” firecrackers and pyrotechnics as those causing serious injury,
harm and possible death on the individual that uses them. In fact, this measure makes equal
regard to factories and outlets or stores that sell these otherwise unsafe or dangerous products.

Inasmuch as governance under our system is decentralized, it is hereby enjoined that local
government units in their respective jurisdictions and territories shall strictly monitor the
prohibitive intent of this measure against those who otherwise wilfully violate ban on the
manufacture and/or sale of unsafe firecrackers or pyrotechnics.

It is the humble view of this author that “unsafe” firecrackers or pyrotechnics sold in the shelves
of stores or clandestinely with prospective buyers actually constitute serious danger waiting to
happen upon those who might knowingly or unwittingly buy them from those who manufacture
or sell them in open markets.

Firecrackers or pyrotechnics that generally explode in flight and in the sKY in a saan and
sounds shall be generally regarded as the safe fireworks consisterft however with appropriate
prescribed specifications as those issued jointly in a memorang~im by the Philippine National
Police and the Department of Health.

Immediate passage of this bill is therefore prayed for.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2

Introduced by Rep. Winston ‘Winnie" Castelo

AN ACT
BANNING MANUFACTURE AND/OR SALE IN STORES OF UNSAFE
FIRECRACKERS/PYROTECHNICS THEREBY MOBILIZING COGNIZANT GOVERNMENT
UNITS TO STRICTLY IMPLEMENT SUCH BAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIGHER
PENALTIES/FINES IMPOSED FOR VIOLATION THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the ‘Pyrotechnics Industry Safety Guidelines
Act of 2016."

SEC. 2. Under this Act, “unsafe” firecrackers or pyrotechnics shall hereby be defined as
causing serious injury, harm, and possible loss of life and generally refer to such fireworks other
than those that explode in flight and in the sky in a kaleidoscope and sounds,

Further technical specification shall heretofore be accordingly issued by the Firearms
and Explosives Unit of the Philippine National Police and the Department of Health in an
appropriate joint memorandum of implementation prescribing only safe firectackers and
pyrotechnics for manufacture and sale,

SEC. 3. There shall hereby be prescribed higher penalties and fines amounting to
500,000 to P1,500,000 for violation hereof as would be validated by joint Philippine National
Police and Department of Health Inspection Team

SEC. 4, This Act shall take effect upon approval and publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,