BOCAUE, Bulacan – Fireworks stakeholders in this town reported brisk business during the New Year’s revelries.

This was confirmed by Lea Alapide, president of the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. She noted that most fireworks stalls in Bocaue, known as the “fireworks capital of the country,” experienced a surge in sales starting right after Christmas Day.

Fireworks stockers and manufacturers struggled to meet the demand from legitimate dealers, which drove prices up.

Alapide highlighted that legitimate fireworks dealers faced stiff competition from illegal online sellers, many of whom brazenly sold illegal or dangerous firecrackers on social media platforms.

She stated that while many illegal online sellers were entrapped and arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police, the agency mandated by RA 7183 to enforce the Firecracker Law, some managed to evade arrest.

According to Alapide, the spike in fireworks-related injuries this year was likely caused by products sold through illegal online platforms.

Allan Cayanan, a legitimate fireworks dealer in Bocaue, shared that most, if not all, pyro stalls in the town had sold the majority of their stocks.

Meanwhile, Justina Gabuyo, an official of the Bocaue Multisectoral Advisory Council representing the business sector, explained that sales of fireworks products, particularly traditional ones, were strong this season.

“Sa aking pananaw, maganda ang naging bentahan lalu na ang [traditional] products dahil ang P1,000 nila marami na ang mabibili, lalu na yung talagang konti lang budget nila, dahil meron na sila lucis, fountain, kwitis, at higad,” Gabuyo explained.

📷 Mon Lazaro