Firecracker sales grow despite restrictions — retailer
THE SALE of firecrackers in the 2023 holiday season spiked with price drops and an increase in the number of manufacturers, even in the thick of safety regulations, according to a retailer.
“I already felt the strong demand on Dec. 24 unlike last year. I knew I had to increase my stock,” Elmer D. Bolbes, owner of BC Fireworks and Pyrotechnics stationed on Dr. A. Santos Avenue in Parañaque City since 2000, said in an interview with BusinessWorld.
He said that he raised his capital to P250,000 from P200,000 in 2022, also noting a fall in retail prices as the industry catered to an increased demand.
Mr. Bolbes sold a fountain tub for P350, down from P450 in the previous year; and a pack of 10 handheld sparklers at a good buy of P100, from P150 in the goodbyes to 2022.
He noted the competition among suppliers in Bocaue, Bulacan — the fireworks capital of the Philippines — as the main driver for the cutback, which he said grew to five major players from the previous two.
However, the Philippine National Police (PNP) was persistent this season in warning the public against prohibited firecrackers and discouraged online transactions as some sellers might lack the necessary permits.
On Dec. 29, the PNP conducted an inspection of fireworks dealers in Bocaue just to ensure their compliance to the rules under Republic Act 7183, the regulation on the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
The effort resulted in the confiscation of over P190,000 worth of prohibited firecrackers nationwide, police said in a briefing days before the New Year. It added P17,550 during an inspection in Divisoria, Manila on Dec. 31, according to a Facebook post by the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office.
On Jan. 1, the Department of Health recorded 231 fireworks-related injuries from Dec. 21. Illegal fireworks made up 44% of the cases.
Additionally, Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., Interior and Local Government secretary, urged all local government units to pass ordinances on firecracker bans, advocating for designated supervised fireworks displays instead.
Still, Mr. Bolbes said he remains bullish for firecracker sales come December 2024 with hopes of increasing his capital again for the holiday season.
“On Dec. 31 last year (2022), I finished my stock and closed shop at 3 p.m., only returning to Bocaue once to refill stocks,” he said. “But this year (2023), I even returned to Bocaue twice and closed at 7 p.m.”
He noted that people usually only flock to his stand on Dec. 31, but observed a favorable shift this season.
“Between Christmas and New Year, it is only this year (2023) that I got to sell P20,000 on a ‘slow’ day. This didn’t happen last year (2022),” he said. “They really get ready now [to light up].”
In the end, Mr. Bolbes’ acknowledged that the life of his business is in keeping the celebrations enjoyable and safe for everyone. So his parting shot in this interview was an advice to the public to maintain distance and take necessary safety precautions when handling firecrackers. — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola
