Envi Group Launches ‘Iwas Paputok’ Campaign, Advocates for Children’s Right to a Safe Environment

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With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, the environmental justice group BAN Toxics launched its annual campaign aimed at preventing fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) and promoting eco-friendly celebrations through an awareness activity at Barangay Payatas in Quezon City.

Around 2,000 participants—including students, teachers, and parents from Payatas B Elementary School, barangay residents and local officials, and representatives from the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection—rallied together to call for “Iwas Paputok, Iwas Disgrasya, Iwas Polusyon (Avoid Firecrackers, Avoid Accidents, Avoid Pollution).”

The activity, which coincided with the celebration of International Human Rights Day, also put forward the call to protect children’s right to health and a safe environment.

“Let us be reminded this Human Rights Day that our children have the right to be safeguarded from exposure to environmental risks,” said BAN Toxics Executive Director Reynaldo San Juan Jr.

He added that fireworks-related injuries persist as a significant concern, particularly endangering the health and safety of children. “Let us ensure a safe and responsible holiday celebration this season, one that prevents harm to our children.”

Based on data from the Department of Health (DOH) Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS), fireworks-related injuries have been steadily increasing, with cases rising from 123 in 2020 to 189 in 2021, 307 in 2022, and 609 in 2023—a 50% spike between 2022 and 2023 alone.

BAN Toxics called on government regulatory and enforcement agencies to intensify the monitoring and confiscation of prohibited firecrackers being sold in the market to prevent another surge in FWRIs this year.

Recent monitoring by the group revealed the continued sale of banned firecrackers by street vendors in Divisoria. Five Star was being sold for PHP 120 per pack, while Piccolo and Pla-pla were priced between PHP 180 and PHP 200 per pack. In a bid to curb these sales, the

Philippine National Police released a list of prohibited firecrackers last year, which includes Watusi, Poppop, Five Star, Pla-pla, Piccolo, Giant Bawang, Goodbye Bading, Goodbye Philippines, Atomic Bomb, Super Lolo, Hello Colombia, Judas’ Belt, Giant Whistle Bomb, Atomic Triangle, Mother Rocket, Goodbye De Lima, Goodbye Napoles, Coke-in-Can, Super Yolanda, Pillbox Star, Kabasi, and Hamas.

“Beyond the injuries these firecrackers cause, they also pose serious health risks, especially to children who are particularly vulnerable,” said Thony Dizon, BAN Toxics Campaign and Advocacy Officer.

The chemicals found in firecrackers include cadmium, lead, chromium, aluminum, magnesium, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, sulfates, carbon monoxide, copper, manganese dioxide, potassium, sodium, zinc, and oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. Exposure to these harmful substances can result in damage to both the nervous and respiratory systems.

During the awareness activity, BAN Toxics displayed larger-than-life mock-ups of banned firecrackers such as Boga, Sinturon ni Hudas, Kwitis, and Piccolo to highlight the dangers they pose. Meanwhile, participants promoted the use of safe noise-makers, such as homemade shakers, toy trumpets, and musical instruments, for the upcoming New Year’s celebration.

In addition to promoting safety, the activity also emphasized the importance of eco-friendly celebrations to protect the environment. Students from each grade level of Payatas B Elementary School showcased zero-plastic, eco-friendly lanterns crafted from biodegradable materials such as abaca, leaves from different plants and trees, eggshells, cartolina paper, various seeds, and coconut fibers, among others.

“This initiative highlights how festive traditions can be celebrated sustainably to reduce environmental impact while fostering creativity and community involvement,” said Antonio Miranda, School Principal of Payatas B Elementary School.

Payatas B Elementary School is a partner of BAN Toxics under the latter’s Toxics-Free Schools Program (TFSP), which promotes the proper handling and management of toxic chemicals and waste in schools, homes, and communities.

According to San Juan Jr., BAN Toxics will continue its efforts to monitor the illegal sale of firecrackers and raise awareness about the dangers they pose throughout the holiday season. “We will keep promoting safer, eco-friendly celebrations to ensure the health and safety of the public, especially children, during this festive season,” San Juan added.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), the chemicals and substances present in firecrackers and fireworks are as follows:

1. CADMIUM may produce irritation of the lungs and influenza-like symptoms. If cadmium is inhaled, ingested, or enters the body, it can accumulate and eventually damage the liver and kidneys. It is also a potential human carcinogen.
2. LEAD may affect the hematological profile of a person including the central nervous system and inhibits brain function. Exposure may also lead to developmental delays, growth retardation, behavioral effects, and learning delays.
3. CHROMIUM may cause skin damage and hypersensitivity, nasal mucosa ulceration, and nasal septum perforation. Long-term exposures may lead to lung cancer.
4. ALUMINUM has been noted to cause impaired memory, dementia, and convulsions.
5. MAGNESIUM dust and fumes when inhaled may irritate mucous membranes or upper respiratory tract and cause mental fume fever and deterioration of the central nervous system.
6. NITRATES, NITRITE, PHOSPHATES, and SULFATES may cause dizziness, abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weakness, and convulsions. Small repeated doses may lead to weakness, general depression, headache, and mental impairment. Phosphates may produce an acute effect on the liver and can cause severe eye damage and may eventually affect the central nervous system. Sulfates are skin and mucous membrane irritant and corrosive; it may cause edema of the lungs and can produce respiratory paralysis.
7. CARBON MONOXIDE (colorless, odorless gas) may cause euphoria, headache, eye irritation, narcosis, coma, may be rapidly fatal after formulation leads to anoxia of the brain, nervous system and heart.
8. COPPER dust fumes when inhaled may cause irritation in the respiratory tract.
9. MANGANESE DIOXIDE fumes cause lung irritation, pneumonia, with possible Parkinsonian symptoms, rigidity, muscular pains and tremor.
10. POTASSIUM irritation may lead to chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema. It may cause severe irritation of the upper respiratory tract with cough, burns and breathing difficulty.
11. SODIUM may cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and respiratory tract.
12. ZINC OXIDE fumes on lungs may cause mental fume fever symptoms like influenza, chills, fever, sweating and muscular weakness.
13. OXIDES of NITROGEN and SULFUR may reduce pulmonary function and mucosal irritation. Powerful irritants may cause respiratory damage.