(CDN FILE PHOTO)
Firecracker and pyrotechnic vendors in Lapu-Lapu City have started displaying their wares along ML Quezon Highway yesterday.
But most of them are barred from selling yet, as they still have to get permits and clearances from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Corsino Ochea, a firecracker and pyrotechnic retailer since 2003, was one of the vendors who were allowed to display their items after completing the needed requirements.
He said the first day of sale normally doesn’t have a lot of customers. He said people who celebrate Christmas and New Year would usually buy fireworks and pyrotechnics on December 23–24 and December 29–31 respectively.
He said the firecracker manufacturers will just deliver the products to him.
Ochea acquired two stalls where he can display his products on consignment, such as whistle bomb, kwitis, bawang, shotgun, butterfly, candy bomb, Judas belt, fountains, pagoda, wiper, rak-rak, with prices ranging from P2 to P3,000.
He said the prices of firecrackers and pyrotechnics have gone up slightly by P.50 to P1 due to increase in prices of its components.
Each stall has warning signs that read “No Testing” and “No Smoking,” and a barrel of water to be used in case fire breaks out. The stock room for firecrackers is located a distance from the stall.
Barangay tanods and policemen were also monitoring barbecue vendors to make sure that they would not stay close to the firecracker display area to avoid fire.