News Update List of fireworks and firecrackers prohibited in the PHL

Under Republic Act (RA) 7183 or the law on pyrotechnic devices, persons caught manufacturing, selling, distributing and purchasing these items may be imprisoned from six months to a year, and may be slapped with a fine from P20,000 to P30,000. Below is a list of the firecrackers prohibited for sale and manufacture in the country by the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry. Watusi or the “dancing firecracker.” It was initially allowed for sale and manufacture under RA 7183, but was eventually banned because it causes poisoning when ingested, especially among children. Piccolo – This firecracker has been the leading cause of firecracker-related injuries since 2007. The Department of Health banned it in 2007 because it can explode on the hands, and may cause death when ingested. Super Lolo and Atomic Big Triangulo – two firecrackers specifically mentioned in RA 7183. Mother Rockets – firecracker with a stick designed as a propellant upon lighting the wick. Lolo Thunder – a powerful firecracker twice the size of a Five Star. Pillbox – a firecracker that causes a series of sparks when lit. Boga – traditional canon made from PVC pipe using denatured alcohol as explosive ingredient. Big Judah’s belt – a string of firecrackers consisting of smaller firecrackers that number up to a hundred, and culminating in a larger and more powerful firecracker. Big Bawang – a firecracker packed in cardboard tied around with abaca strings, giving it the shape of a large garlic. Kwiton – aerial firecracker which explodes several times when lit. Goodbye Philippines – giant triangle-shaped firecracker which packs a powerful explosion. Kabasi – a triangle-sized explosive twice the size of a Pla-pla. Other banned firecrackers include the “Atomic Bomb,” Five Star, Pla-pla, Og, Giant Whistle Bomb, and unlabelled firecrackers. Meanwhile, RA 7183 allows the following firecrackers and fireworks to be sold in the country: Baby Rocket — Assembled with a stick that helps propels the contraption to fly a few meters before exploding. The firecracker is about 1-½ inches long by 3/8 inch in diameter with the stick about a foot in length. Bawang — Larger than a Triangulo and with 1/3 teaspoon of powder packed in cardboard, it is tied with abaca string and wrapped in the shape of garlic. Small Triangulo — Triangle shaped with powder less than the Bawang and usually wrapped in brown paper measuring ¾ inch at its longest side. Pulling of strings — An inch-long less than ¼ of an inch in diameter with strings on each end that when pulled cause the firecracker to explode. Paper caps — Minute amounts of black powder spread in thin strips of paper on a small sheet and used in children's toy guns. El Diablo or Labintador — Tubular shaped, about 1-¼ inches long and less than ¼ inch in diameter with a wick. Judah's Belt — A string of either Diablos or small Triangulos numbering up to a hundred or so and culminating in a large firecracker — usually a Bawang. Sky Rocket or Kwitis — A large Baby Rocket designed to fly up to 40 to 50 feet in the air before it explodes. Sparklers — Black powder coated on a piece of wire or wrapped in a paper tube designed to light up and glow after igniting. Luces — Any of several kinds of Sparklers. Fountain — Cone-shaped sparkler, which is lighted on the ground and designed to create, sparks of various colors and intermittent lights when ignited. Jumbo regular and special — Similar to a "Fountain" but bigger in size. Mabuhay — A bundle usually of a dozen Sparklers. Roman Candle — A kind of Sparkler also similar to a "Fountain" but shaped like a big candle. Trompillo — A pyrotechnic device usually fastened at the center and designed to spin first clockwise and then counter-clockwise and gives off various light colors when ignited. Airwolf — A kind of Sky Rocket shaped like an airplane with a propeller to rise about 40 or 50 feet and emits various lights while in the air. Whistle Bomb — Any firecracker or pyrotechnic designed to emit a whistle-like sound before exploding. Others are designed simply to whistle without exploding. Butterfly — A light emitting butterfly-shaped pyrotechnic that floats above the ground. — Andreo Calonzo with GMA News Research/VS