PFA welcome the decision of DOLE issuing work stoppage order on firecrackers.
A group of firecracker businessmen expressed support on the order of Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) to stop work in all establishments in the Philippines selling and manufacturing pyrotechnics and firecrackers.
This was expressed on Friday by the Philippine Fireworks Association (PFA) following the work stoppage order of the department.
In the work stoppage order dated November 24, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said there was a grave and imminent danger to workers in these establishments after the deadly incidents in some firecracker factory in October and November.
“Natutuwa nga kami sa mabilis na aksiyon ng ating Labor secretary kasi alam naman po nating lahat, lahat po ng pabrika sa Pilipinas, hindi lang sa paputok, dapat po talaga binibisita ng DOLE ‘yan,” PFA Head Joven Ong said in a television interview.
On October 12, 2016, two persons died and 24 others were injured after an explosion occurred at fireworks shops in Barangay Biñang 1st, Bocaue, Bulacan.
Three persons were also killed and six others were wounded on November 23 in an explosion at AA Firecracker Manufacturing in Sitio Bangka-Bangkaan, Barangay Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
“Kailangan tinitignan na ang lahat ng pabrika ay up to standards, safety standards. Kami ay natutuwa kasi ang fireworks industry lagi na nga lang po kung minsan nagkakaroon ng ganito dahil nga po ang implementation ng batas hindi po naayon sa gusto naming international standard,” Ong added.
“Kami ay natutuwa, wag naman sana kami ma-ban, kasi these are instances bagaman mayron ganyan ng mga nangyayari, these are a wake-up call to everybody na dapat talaga na i-implement ng tama yung batas,” he added.
He insisted that concerned government agencies looking for the safety of workers as well as product standards such the DOLE, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Bureau of Customs must exert a concerted effort to address the issues of the fireworks industry in the Philippines.
