As they are readily available and inexpensive, it has since earned notoriety as a leading cause of
firecracker-related injuries in the
Philippines especially among small children, either due to premature ignition or accidental ingestion. The
Department of Health, along with the
Bureau of Fire Protection,
Philippine National Police and local government agencies, has taken steps to outlaw the sale and importation of piccolo sticks.
Counterfeit and repackaged versions are being sold in
flea markets and sidewalk stalls such as in
Divisoria, with most bearing patently false markings such as "Made in
Bulacan" and instructions in
Tagalog in an attempt to disguise its origin and thus evade detection by authorities. == References ==