Buyers of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices flock to Bocaue, Bulacan for last-minute shopping on New Year’s Eve. Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope
BOCAUE, BULACAN –– Business was brisk on New Year’s Eve as people rushed to make last-minute shopping for fireworks and firecrackers here.
Fire trucks and ambulances were on standby in designated parking areas for buyers coming from Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and other provinces.
Roads leading to stores selling fireworks and pyrotechnic products in Barangay Turo here were jammed and customers were caught in a gridlock due to long queues that built up in front of the shops.
“This is an answered prayer. The remaining stocks could be swept off the shelves,” said Lea Alapide, president of Philippine Pyrotechnic Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. (PPMDAI).
Buyers of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices flock to Bocaue, Bulacan for last-minute shopping on New Year’s Eve. Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope
Drop in sales
Some vendors had been expecting a sharp drop in sales due to the coronavirus pandemic and the ban on pyrotechnic devices in some places.
Mayors in Metro Manila had banned all kinds of firecrackers this holiday season to reduce injuries and deaths related to their use.
The City of Meycauayan had prohibited the use and sale of firecrackers for five years now. Mayor Linabelle Ruth Villarica said she was just enforcing an ordinance regulating fireworks use in the city.
Villarica said the ban was not intended to hurt the fireworks industry but to help ensure the safety of residents in welcoming the New Year.
Decent income
But Alapide said customers from other areas were coming here to buy pyrotechnic products in bulk right after Christmas Day. She said their sales on New Year’s Eve could be enough to recover their capital and earn a decent income.
Hours before the New Year revelry, shoppers were still buying pyrotechnic devices and sparklers such as aerial shots and fountains, Minia Camlian, a trader, said, adding that “kuwitis,” “sawa” and “Five Star” were among the popular firecrackers.