CITY OF MALOLOS — Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña on Monday said it was time for the local firecracker and pyrotechnic industry to reinvent itself, beginning with a more positive way of referring to “magpuputok” (firecracker makers).
“Calling you magpuputok does not inspire confidence. After all, ‘putok’ or blast has a different connotation. What’s a better term?” De la Peña said when he spoke at a seminar on safe fireworks manufacturing and regulations sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Bulacan Pyrotechnic Regulatory Board.
A pyrotechnician or “magpapailaw” (light bringer) was the term offered by Celso Cruz, president emeritus of the Philippine Pyrotechnic Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc., to refer to a maker of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic products.
Cruz said the Bulacan industry needs to change and become technologically advanced and globally competitive.
The country’s top fireworks makers gathered here in light of the decreased sales during the recent Christmas and New Year holidays, which they attributed to new government regulations and a campaign to limit firecracker use.
While other government agencies support the “tigil paputok” (end firecracker use) campaign, the DOST believes some pyrotechnic devices are safe for household use provided the industry modernizes, De la Peña said.
“Find me a child who grew up without seeing firecrackers and fireworks. Missing out on fireworks is like losing a part of your being a Filipino,” he said.
“[So] we have to bring up the industry to the next level because, if not, we may lose the industry anytime. Just like the other businesses we have addressed and helped,” he added.
According to De la Peña, the DOST plans to send policemen and firemen to the United Kingdom to undergo explosives engineering training to make the monitoring of fireworks manufacturers more efficient.
Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado encouraged manufacturers to keep an open mind about a proposal to concentrate on producing fireworks. —Carmela Reyes-Estrope