BOCAUE, Bulacan—Fireworks store owners in this considered firecracker capital of the country went on panic on Friday and closed down their stalls due to reports they received of an on the spot inspection of their products by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Bayani Sayo, President of Bocaue Fireworks Dealers Association said the dealers were frightened their stores will be padlocked and their products would be confiscated by the DTI if the inspection pursued that’s why many from his members immediately went on closing their stalls.
“Nagsipagsara na lahat. Nangatakot na maipadlock at makumpiska ang kanilang mga paninda. Halos ako na lang ata ang natirang may bukas na tindahan. Naging normal na na attitude ng marami sa amin ang matakot lagi kapag may darating na mga ganyan kaya nagsisipagsara,” he said.
DTI Bulacan head Zorrina Aldana said the inspection of the close to 300 stalls here was aimed to find out if the products bear the PS (Product Standard) Seal she said was set for fireworks and pyrotechnic products.
Aldana with her office staff and personnel were already in Barangay Turo here where firecracker stalls lined up one after the other when the stores started closing down. But she said they were still able to serve at least ten notice of violations to ten dealers and stores here in Bocaue and in Sta. Maria town.
“We are after the manufacturers at sila ang tulay para madetect namin ang mga manufacturers. I am willing to sit down with them, ayoko ng ganyan na parang taguan, kanino, sino nagbibigay ng mga uncertified products sa kanila,” she said.
According to Aldana, those who were given notice of violation should go to their office in 48 hours and name who supply them those uncertified products, products that have no PS seal or manufactured by unlicensed manufacturers.
Aldana said the firecracker products should be made in accordance with the standard set under the firecracker law, RA 7183 which has the right amount of chemical prescribed and not the old practice of just approximating the amount of explosive chemicals to be placed or used in each item or product.
She said the no PS sealed products caused the accidental explosions.
“May mga pailaw na pumuputok o sumasabog na hindi naman dapat. May kuwitis naman na hindi pumuputok bagkus umiilaw lang. Yun ang mga halimbawa na hindi nagdaan at pumasa sa product standard test and procedures ang mga gumagawa,” she said.
But Sayo said, the manufacturers and not the dealers just like them who should be the target of the DTI.
Sayo also assailed the no timing inspection operation of the DTI as the dealers are already feeling the slow sales. “Ang sa amin ay appeal na huwag ng mag-inspect kasi wala sa timing”.
“Late na ang inspection nila, dapat noon pa. earlier months pa hindi ngayon na gahol na sa bentahan. Matumal na nga ang benta puro inspection pa,” he said pointing to the manufacturers who made the products they sell as the ones who should be inspected for the PS seal during production period earlier during the year.
According to Aldana, at least 12 manufacturers whom they have earlier inspected and visited have already passed the PS seal as required by their office while other manufacturers are on the process to comply.
She said those stalls and manufacturing site found to have no PS seal are obliged to undergo tests and submit documents within 48 hours and might face closure if would not comply or continue to operate even without compliance and PS seal.
Aldana said their operation to inspect the stalls are not against the fireworks industry in Bulacan but rather a positive move both to protect the industry and the people patronizing their product because they are buying safe items.
She said they are not similar to the DOH which conducts “Iwas Paputok” programs and advocacies but they are only enforcing the law for “Ingat Paputok” program.
According to Adana, they will conduct a no announcement inspection next time.