THIS HOLIDAY season as Iloilo City prepares for a month-long firecracker selling period, Ilonggos find themselves leaning on an enforcement system that is, at best, fragmented and, at worst, dangerously inadequate. The recent admission from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as reported by this paper should alarm us all: Iloilo City has no licensed firecracker manufacturers, yet illegal backyard production persists — and the agency has neither the mandate to shut these operations down nor the storage facilities to secure confiscated explosives.
In short, the very agency the public looks to for fire safety is structurally limited in addressing one of the most explosive hazards of the season.
Instead, the burden falls on the Philippine National Police (PNP), which is expected to lead the crackdown on illegal manufacturers, monitor the supply chain, enforce zoning rules, inspect vendors, and respond to emergencies — all while juggling its already heavy responsibilities. In an ideal setup, this division of labor would be clear and efficient. But on the ground, it creates gaps wide enough for illegal operations to thrive.
The BFP has the technical expertise but not the enforcement teeth. The PNP has the authority but not the specialized fire-safety know-how. And between these two agencies lies a gray area where unlicensed manufacturers operate with alarming ease.
This lack of coordination is in itself a public safety threat. How can we expect an effective crackdown on illegal firecrackers when the BFP, upon discovering unlicensed materials, cannot even store them properly? How can the PNP act swiftly when fire-safety assessments fall outside its core functions? And how can the city enforce safety rules when its enforcement structure is split, incomplete, and reactive rather than proactive?
The challenges become even more pressing with Iloilo City now allowing firecracker sales for an entire month — a major expansion from previous years. More days of selling mean more products circulating, more opportunities for illegal supply to slip into the market, and more potential for unsafe storage and handling. Yet inter-agency coordination appears to be operating on the same old framework, unchanged despite the expanded risks.
Public safety cannot depend on agencies passing responsibilities back and forth like a hot potato. The city needs a unified, clearly defined, and well-resourced system for firecracker enforcement — one that leverages the strengths of each agency rather than highlighting their limitations. This includes establishing or designating proper storage facilities for confiscated explosives; drafting clear, comprehensive joint protocols between the PNP, BFP, and the city government; expanding manpower and equipment for inspections and enforcement; and implementing a year-round information campaign to complement enforcement efforts.
The holiday season should be a time of celebration, not anxiety over which unregulated backyard workshop might ignite next. Iloilo City cannot afford to rely on a fractured system that leaves too much to chance.
If safety is truly the priority, then the question is not which agency should take the lead. The real question — and the one authorities must urgently answer — is whether they are willing to close the enforcement gaps before they lead to tragedy.
