BFP: Violations committed in Cavite fireworks factory operations

MANILA, Philippines – Starmaker Fireworks committed violations in operating its factory in Trece Martires City, Cavite, that was blown to bits by a powerful explosion on Thursday, killing seven people and injuring at least 47 others. That was the finding of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in its preliminary investigation, according to a GMA "Flash Report" aired on Friday. Under the law, the factory’s chemical storage area is supposed to be at least 50 meters away from the storage area for finished products. But the chemical storage area at the Starmaker factory was only 5 to 7 meters away from the storage area for the finished products. The proximity of both storage facilities made the blast more severe, the BFP said. The law also provides that a fireworks factory should be at least 300 meters away from residential areas, but the Starmaker factory was only a few meters away from houses. These findings are a violation of provisions under Republic Act no. 7183, the Act that regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devises. The management of Starmaker, however, insisted that it complied with the requirements of the law, pointing out that the local government and the police had issued a clearance for it to operate. Earlier in the day, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said those found to have committed violations resulting to the blast that led to the death of at least five people should be punished. The Starmaker factory explosion killed 7 people and injured at least 47 others. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV