INSPECTION | Philippine National Police Chief Director General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. (fourth from left), Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando (third from right) and other police and Bulacan officials inspect the pyrotechnic products produced and sold by the Ding Dinglasan’s store in Turo Pyrozone in Bocaue town on Thursday. The store has a minimal display of stocks of products due to the scarcity of imported materials to make pyrotechnics and firecrackers. (Photo by CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE / Inquirer Central Luzon)
BOCAUE, Bulacan, Philippines — The prices of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic products produced in Bulacan province have begun to double and were expected to further increase ahead of the holiday revelry due to a limited supply of raw materials, according to local manufacturers.
Joven Ong, president of the Bulacan Pyrotechnic Board, said the local firecrackers production was delayed due to the late arrival of imported chemicals, which he attributed to shipping restrictions related to COVID-19.
Ding Dinglasan, a retailer in this “fireworks capital,” said a bundle (100 pieces) of skyrockets, or “kuwitis,” used to cost between P350 and P750, but were sold from P850 to P1,000 as of Thursday. A box of aerial pyrotechnics also soared to P2,500 from P350.