A tragic explosion occurred on Christmas Day, resulting in the deaths of two individuals—a young girl and an adult male—and injuring eight others. The incident took place around 7:00 p.m. on a two-storey house in Sitio Boquig, Bacayao Norte, where firecrackers were being packaged for sale ahead of the New Year.

This incident struck just two days after the launch of the “Oplan Iwas Papuputok-Ligtas na Christmas 2025” campaign at the Dagupan City Plaza, aimed at achieving zero firecracker-related injuries during the holiday season.

Dagupan City Police Director Col. Orly Pagaduan revealed that the explosion originated from a make firecracker factory that severely affected the adjacent house of Raffy Ramos, where a stockpile of firecrackers, including the potent large “Triangulo,” was being prepared for distribution to dealers.

Mayor Belen Fernandez and Vice Mayor Bryan Kua quickly arrived at the site, expressing their shock at the loss of life and the severity of injuries sustained by eight individuals, who were all transported to the Region 1 Medical Center for treatment. Mayor Fernandez has ordered a comprehensive investigation to hold accountable those responsible for this tragedy.

The mayor also ordered the police and barangay captains to search houses suspected to be manufacturing and stockpiling firecrackers.

Among the injured, three or four members of the Ramos family were trapped beneath collapsing concrete walls in the damaged structure. The explosion also affected five neighboring houses.

This incident marks the second firecracker explosion in the city this year; a previous event in early November resulted in one fatality and four injuries from an unregistered fireworks factory in Barangay Tebeng.

Preliminary investigations indicate that firecrackers in Bacayao Norte were often manufactured in makeshift shacks near residences, with the finished products taken to homes for packing before reaching the market.

The firecracker industry remains a lucrative business in Bacayao Norte and other southern barangays of Dagupan City. Last year, a similar explosion rocked Barangay Malued on Christmas Day, triggered by careless behavior during a drinking spree.

In response to safety concerns, Mayor Belen Fernandez has designated a vacant lot next to Calmay River, just in front of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), as an official firecracker zone, allowing for the regulated sale of authorized fireworks.

In a press release at 10:00 a.m. on December 25, DPO stated that the house owner (Ramos) is currently considered a person of interest in the ongoing investigation of the incident. The person responsible could be charged with violating Republic Act No. 9564 (Comprehensive Fire Code of the Philippines) and the relevant provisions of the Revised Penal Code.

A report stated that a Christmas party was being held near the makeshift firecracker factory before the explosion.

Meantime, Col. Pagaduan has urged local barangay captains and residents to collaborate with law enforcement to help identify firecracker manufacturing operations within the community. (Leonardo Micua with report from Butch Uka)