FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
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I ti3 1 i ,, 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 5, provides that: 
The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, 
and property, and promotion of the general welfare we essential for the 
enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy. 
Following this state principle, the state intends to protect the general welfare of 
the people by banning the use of fireworks in residential areas. 
According to a news paper report, "while there were no reported deaths, 907 
people, including children and bystanders, were injured by firecrackers and celebratory 
gunfire during holiday revelries this year, up 48 percent from the same period in 2005. 
Of the total injuries recorded from December 21 to January 1, 870 were firecracker- 
related, 35 were due to stray bullets, and two were due to "watusi" (dancing firecracker) 
ingestion." 
Acknowledging the sharp rise in injuries from 610 during the same period in 
2005, Health Secretary Francisco Duque reiterated his plea for lawmakers to ban the use 
of firecrackers in residential areas. Heeding this call of the government's health officials, 
this bill aims to ban the use of firecrackers in residential areas. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
8 r!:!i 
11 ,it, 'i 
First Regular Session 
) 
S. No. SENY6 
6 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO BAN THE USE OF FIFU3CRACKERS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the "Firecracker 
Ban in Residential Areas Act of 2008". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The maintenance of peace and order, the 
protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential 
for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy. To this end, the state 
aims to ensure the safety of the people by banning the use of firecrackers in residential 
areas. 
SECTION 3. Total Ban on Use of Firecrackers in Residential Areas. - No 
firecracker and pyrotechnic device may be used in residential areas as defined by the 
local zoning ordinance of the local government unit involved. 
SECTION 4. Designation of Common Firecraker Use Area. - For purposes of 
national and local holiday celebrations, the head of the local government unit involved is 
authorized to designate a common firecracker use area. The common firecracker use area 
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barangay. 
should not exceed Two Hundred (200) square meters and should be located in a non- 
residential zone. In addition, there can be only one common firecracker use area per 
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SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall 
be punished by a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (€'lO,OOO.OO) nor more than 
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Fifty Thousand Pesos (PSO,OOO.OO), 
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. 
SECTION 6. Promulgation of Rules and Regulations for the Administration and 
Enforcement of this Act. - 
The Philippine National Police shall be primarily responsible 
for the administration and enforcement of this Act. It shall transmit all case for 
prosecution arising from violations of this Act to proper government prosecutors for 
appropriate action. 
The PNP is hereby authorized, after public hearing and consultation with the 
firecrackers and pyrotechnic industry and representative of local government units, to 
promulgate rules and regulations necessary to properly implement this Act. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not othenvise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
executive orders, letter of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations 
contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, 
or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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