Pyro-related injuries to drop, if...

SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan—Pyrotechnics related injuries will drop by at least 40 percent if authorities will only remove smuggled and sub-standard products from the market.

The move is also expected to increase sales of legitimate pyrotechnics manufacturers and dealers in the country who are struggling to compete.

Joven Ong of Dragon Fireworks here said that they can not calculate possible sales at this time as buyers usually flock to pyrotechnics store after Christmas.

However, he said that if authorities will removed illegal pyrotechnics products in the market, it will likely to increase their sales.

“Even injuries will drop by at least 40 percent,” Ong said noting that pyrotechnics related injuries are usually caused by oversized and sub standard products.

As the country’s leading fireworks manufacturer, he said that fellow legitimate manufacturers are following the requirements of the law to secure safety in the use of their products.

He was referring to Republic Act 71983 of the law governing the manufacture, sale and distribution of pyrotechnics devices.

Ong said the law required that for pyrotechnics no more than half teaspoon of chemicals must be used, and its fuse must take at least three seconds to explode after lighting.

Records showed that every year, a number of children are injured by pyrotechnics devices.

This is due to the fact that children usually pick up unexploded pyrotechnics.

Earlier, the the Department of Health launched a safety campaign dubbed as Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction (APIR).

The campaign is a clear departure from the previous DOH scare tactics known as “Iwas Paputok.”

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bulacan are working double time to inspect pyrotechnics factories and stores in the province.

Yesterday, the BFP conducted their third inspection in seven days.

However, pyrotechnics dealers and retailers said that BFP’s inspection came a little to late.