Field units of the Department of Trade and Industry on Thursday confiscated in Barangay Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria Bulacan, a total of 130 pieces of fireworks without the requisite Philippine Standard or PS mark certification.

According to Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castello, the DTI team inspected eight establishments, of which four were issued notices of violations.

"Two of them were selling fireworks not included in the scope of their PS license, while one store was selling fireworks without PS mark but without license number indicated, and one store violated both selling items without PS Marks and items not included in the scope of their PS License. A total of 130 pieces of fireworks were confiscated amounting to P7,735," Castelo told the Daily Tribune.

The stores, including those issued with notices of violation, were complete with mayor's permit, permit to sell from the Philippine National Police and a Fire Safety Certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Castelo said.

On 27 December, DTI personnel also seized Christmas lights that did not pass its inspection in Bocaue and in many localities in Metro Manila.

On Wednesday, Castello told Daily Tribune that the DTI would look into its report that illegal firecrackers and fireworks were being sold rampantly in Bocaue.

DTI figures showed that from September to 27 December 2022, only P11,885 worth of unlicensed fireworks had been seized in Bocaue, Bulacan.

PS mark

For the same period, the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau confiscated in the National Capital Region P235,505 worth of uncertified Christmas lights, Castelo said.

Among those seized were 675 units of uncertified Christmas lights and 227 pieces of unlicensed fireworks, she added.

Castelo revealed that out of the 71 monitored retail firms, 10 were issued with Notices of Violation for selling uncertified Christmas Lights.