Firecracker vendors in Bohol enjoy brisk sales

Firecrackers and fireworks are on display along the highway in Baclayon town in Bohol days before New Year ’s Eve. (Photo by Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines -Firecracker vendors here are enjoying better sales this New Year’s Eve.

Ashary Macatoon Macabangkit, 27, told Inquirer that they have more customers now as compared to last year when they hardly made profits.

Macabangkit, of Tagbilaran City, was one of the vendors in 16 makeshift tents that sell firecrackers along the highway in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Baclayon town, Bohol – the designated area for selling and buying of pyrotechnic materials.

Other approved firecracker zones in the province are vacant lots in Barangay BonBon in Calape town, Barangay San Jose in Talibon town and in Poblacion in Tubigon town.

Firecracker vendors are not allowed to sell in the capital city of Tagbilaran.

In Baclayon, there are only 16 firecracker vendors as compared to last year’s 23.

Macabangkit said he was not able to recoup his P200,000 business capital as only a few bought firecrackers.

Ashary Macatoon Macabangkit is one of the fireworks vendors in the makeshift tents along the highway in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Baclayon town, Bohol. (Photo by Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)

He said low firecracker sales were affected by Executive Order (EO) No. 28 which was signed into law last year and regulated the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

But this year, Macabangkit said sales have been better since Christmas Eve.

From Dec. 21 to Dec. 25, Macabangkit said he already earned P48,000 compared to his P11,000 earnings for the same period last year.

Macabangkit said he still expects sales to peak up on Dec. 30 and 31 especially with last minute shoppers.

According to Macabangkit, fireworks that cost between P600 and P7,000 are fast moving.

But there are those who would still buy firecrackers that cost from P15 to P1,000 each.

Macabangkit maintained that they get their firecrackers from legitimate sources.

“We would not make money if we sell illegal firecrackers because the police would confiscate these,” he said.

Macabangkit said police officers have been monitoring them daily.

Macabangkit said he and other sellers were able to secure certifications from the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has warned the public not to buy illegal fireworks such as piccolo for this New Year’s Eve celebration.

Aside from piccolo, other banned firecrackers include super lolo, giant whistle bomb, goodbye Philippines/Earth, Bin Laden, atomic big triangulo, large Judas belt, bawang, mother rocket, lolo thunder coke in can, five star, pla-pla, kabasi and watusi.

All firecrackers with gunpowder exceeding two grams or 1.3 teaspoons are also strictly prohibited, the DILG added.  /muf