Events
A countdown at a year-end party, sparklers on a launch stage, a fireworks finale over a festival ground: pyrotechnics turn up in event briefs as the holidays get close. In the Philippines, two rules set the limits. Republic Act No. 7183 regulates firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, and Executive Order No. 28 of 2017 confines firecrackers to community fireworks displays.
Can an event still have fireworks?
Yes, as a community fireworks display. Executive Order No. 28 says “the use of firecrackers shall henceforth be confined to community fireworks displays.” A display counts as one only if it meets all three of the order’s conditions.
| Condition in EO 28 | What it means for an event |
| “It is conducted on the occasion or as part of a celebration, competition, or similar event held in a venue other than a place of residence” | A launch, a festival or a year-end party at a venue can qualify; a display at someone’s home cannot |
| “It is conducted under the supervision of a trained person duly licensed by the PNP” | The supplier names the licensed person who will run the display |
| “It is allowed by the municipality/city concerned through a permit specifying the date and time of the fireworks display and the specific area in which the display will be conducted” | The city permit fixes the date, the time and the exact area, so all three have to be settled before you apply |
What about sparklers and stage pyro?
They sit on a different line of the order: “Pyrotechnic devices other than firecrackers may be used outside community fireworks displays subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.” Republic Act No. 7183 lists sparklers, luces, fountains and Roman candles among the devices that “may be manufactured, sold, distributed and used”.
“Subject to existing laws” still brings in the venue’s fire rules. The Fire Code lists “fireworks materials of any kind or form” among the hazardous materials that need fire safety measures, and our guide to fire safety at events covers what that means for the build.
What is banned outright?
Section 3 of RA 7183 prohibits types “of such explosive content that could endanger life and limb, such as atomic big triangulo and super lolo and their equivalent”. The PNP draws the line: “Determination of what constitutes prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices shall be vested with the Director-General of the Philippine National Police (PNP).”
Executive Order No. 28 closes the gap for events: a device on the PNP’s prohibited list can’t be used even as part of a community fireworks display.
Who can supply the fireworks?
A licensed manufacturer or dealer. The law grants a “license or permit to manufacture, sell and distribute firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices” only for the types it allows, and in Metro Manila the application goes “through the Commanding Officer of the Firearms and Explosives Unit, Headquarters, PNP.” Licences go only to “Filipino citizens of good moral character”, or to companies registered with the DTI or the SEC that are wholly Filipino-owned.
The fireworks themselves have to be made here: “The importation of finished firecrackers and fireworks shall be prohibited.” Every package must also carry “labels indicating the name and address of their manufacturers and warning instructions written in Filipino and English.” Asking to see those labels is the quickest check on where a supplier’s stock came from.
What permits does the event need?
The city’s, first. Under Executive Order No. 28 the display needs a permit from “the municipality/city concerned”, and RA 7183 lets each city add its own rules: “the local chief executives shall be given the authority to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within their territorial jurisdiction in conformity with the national standards, rules and regulations.”
In Makati, the special permit for a fireworks display also asks for a BFP permit, a PNP licence to deal in pyrotechnics and a notarised undertaking that a PNP-licensed person will supervise. Our guide to special event permits has the full list. Other cities publish their own, so read the one for the city your venue is in.
What happens if the rules are broken?
Section 11 of RA 7183 sets a fine of P20,000 to P30,000, imprisonment of six months to one year, or both, “in addition to the cancellation of his license and business permit and the confiscation by the Government of his inventory or stock.” The supplier carries most of that risk, but a display without a permit can still stop the show on the night.
What to settle with the supplier and the venue
| Ask for | Why |
| The PNP licence of the person who will supervise the display | EO 28 requires “a trained person duly licensed by the PNP” |
| The supplier’s licence to sell and distribute | RA 7183 grants it only for the types the law allows |
| Labels on every package | Section 8: the manufacturer’s name and address, and warnings in Filipino and English |
| The city permit, with the date, time and area | EO 28 makes it one of the three conditions |
| The venue’s sign-off on sparklers and stage pyro | Devices other than firecrackers stay subject to existing laws and the venue’s fire rules |
Plan it first
Put fireworks on the permit list at the first meeting, not the last. The city permit, the licensed supervisor and the venue’s fire rules all have to line up behind one date and one area.
General information from Republic Act No. 7183 and Executive Order No. 28 (2017). It is not legal advice; check with the city, the venue and a licensed supplier before you plan a display.
Who should handle it?
The team running the event, working with a licensed fireworks supplier. When you brief an events company, ask who will supply and supervise the display, and when the city permit goes in. PUNX is an events company in Makati: 50-plus people, founded 2023, running activations and events for GCash, Sun Life and PRU Life UK.
FAQ
Are fireworks allowed at events in the Philippines?
Yes, as a community fireworks display. Under Executive Order No. 28 of 2017, firecrackers are confined to community fireworks displays held at a venue other than a residence, supervised by a person licensed by the PNP, and allowed by the city or municipality through a permit that sets the date, time and area.
Can you use sparklers or stage pyrotechnics at an event?
Executive Order No. 28 allows pyrotechnic devices other than firecrackers outside community fireworks displays, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. Republic Act No. 7183 lists sparklers, fountains and Roman candles among the devices that may be used. The venue’s fire safety rules still apply.
Can fireworks be imported for an event in the Philippines?
No. Republic Act No. 7183 prohibits the importation of finished firecrackers and fireworks. Only licensed manufacturers may import the chemicals and explosive ingredients used to make them.
What is the penalty for violating the firecracker law?
Under Section 11 of Republic Act No. 7183, a fine of P20,000 to P30,000, imprisonment of six months to one year, or both, plus cancellation of the licence and business permit and confiscation of the stock.
Related
Special event permits — what Makati asks for a fireworks display
Fire safety at events — what the Fire Code asks of the build
Company Christmas party planning — what to book when
Planning a year-end event?
Send us the date, the venue and the brief. We will put the permits on the plan from the first meeting.
Start a project ↗