It has been a yearly tradition for most Pinoys to celebrate New Year using firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. The celebration is not enough without the presence of firecrackers. Unfortunately, there are people who do not know their limitations in spite of repetitive reminders on televisions and radios on the responsible use of firecrackers. While firecrackers are only dangerous if in the wrong hands, there are still people who prefer prohibited firecrackers over safer ones, unperturbed to the fact that they could hurt another person due to their irresponsible use.
The Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7183 or An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices outlines the types of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices that are prohibited:
Sec. 2. Types of Firecrackers and Pyrotechnic Devices Allowed in this Act. — The following common types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices may be manufactured, sold, distributed and used:
A. Firecrackers:
(1) Baby rocket — A firecracker with a stick so constructed that lighting of the wick will propel the whole thing to lift a few meters before exploding. The firecracker is about 1 ½ inches in length by 3/8 inch in diameter while the stick is about a foot in length;
(2) Bawang — A firecracker larger than a triangulo with 1/3 teaspoon of powder packed in cardboard tied around with abaca strings and wrapped in shape of garlic;
(3) Small triangulo — A firecracker shaped like a triangle with powder content less than the bawang and usually wrapped in brown paper measuring ¾ inch length in its longest side;
(4) Pulling of strings — A firecracker consisting of a small tube about an inch in length and less than ¼ of an inch in diameter with strings on each end. Pulling both strings will cause the firecracker to explode;
(5) Paper caps — Minute amount of black powder spread in either small strips of paper on a small sheet used for children's toy guns;
(6) El diablo — Firecrackers tubular in shape about 1 ¼ inches in length and less than ¼ inch in diameter with a wick; also known as labintador;
(7) Watusi — Usually reddish in color about 1 ½ inches in length and 1/10 inch in width usually ignited by friction to produce a dancing movement and a crackling sound;
(8) Judah's belt — A string of firecrackers consisting of either diablos or small triangulos that can number up to a hundred or thereabout and culminating in large firecracker usually a bawang;
(9) Sky rocket (kwitis) — A large version of a baby rocket designed to be propelled to a height of forty (40) to fifty (50) feet before exploding;
(10) Other types equivalent to the foregoing in explosive content.
B. Pyrotechnic Devices:
(1) Sparklers — Pyrotechnic devices usually made of black powder on a piece of wire or inside a paper tube designed to light up and glow after igniting;
(2) Luces — Any of several kinds of sparklers;
(3) Fountain — A kind of sparkler conical in shape which is lighted on the ground and designed to provide various rising colors and intermittent lights upon being ignited;
(4) Jumbo regular and special — A kind of sparkler similar to a "fountain" but bigger in size;
(5) Mabuhay — Sparklers bunched into a bundle of a dozen pieces;
(6) Roman candle — A sparkler similar to a "fountain" but shaped like a big candle;
(7) Trompillo — A pyrotechnic device usually fastened at the center and designed to spin first clockwise and then counter-clockwise and provides various colored lights upon being ignited;
(8) Airwolf — A kind of sky rocket shaped like an airplane with a propeller to rise about forty (40) or fifty (50) feet and provide various kinds of light while aloft;
(9) Whistle device — Any of the various kinds of firecrackers or pyrotechnic designed to either simply emit a whistle-like sound or explode afterwards upon being ignited;
(10) Butterfly — Butterfly-shaped pyrotechnic device designed to lift above ground while providing light;
(11) All kinds of pyrotechnic devices (pailaw); and
(12) Other types equivalent to the foregoing devices.
