List of fireworks and firecrackers prohibited in the PHL

(Updated 8:54 p.m.) 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, GMA News