SRP firecracker vendors wait for sales to pick up

Firecracker vendors display their wares at the back of Sugbu building at the South Road Properties (SRP), the only place designated in Cebu City for selling their goods. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

With  five days to go before Christmas, local firecracker vendors hope to raise their sales at the South Road Properties (SRP) after two days of rain and fewer buyers in the past week.

The sale of assorted firecrackers in Cebu City started on Dec. 16 at a designated area in the SRP.

But vendors said only a few customers went there to  buy pyrotechnics for Christmas and New Year revelry.

Jeffrey Ferrer, who’s been selling firecrackers at the SRP area for seven years, said the two-day downpour slowed down their sales further.

Since last week, Ferrer, a resident of Talisay city,  said two or more customers would buy from them but vendors end up empty-handed on other days.

“Tingali karon pa ni silang petsa baynte kapin mudagsa ang tawo aron mamalit og pabuto aron Pasko ug New Year (Maybe customers will buy on Dec. 20. Many  may come later for Christmas and New Year),” he said.

“Fountain” pyrotechnics are the cheapest items sold at P150 each.

Sparklers are priced at P35 per dozen.

A  Judas Belt of firecrackers sell for P35 to P100 each.

Fireworks sell for  P350 to P3,500 each.

“Too much heat and rain can damage our products. We had no choice but stay here for 24 hours to guard our firecrackers,” Ferrer said in Cebuano.

Vendors were required to attend a seminar on the guidelines in selling fireworks in SRP area.

They are required to have fire extinguishers and water  supply on standby.

Warning signs should also be put up reminding the public not to smoke or test the firecrackers.

One of the early buyers was Bernie Tecson  of Minglanilla town who bought P10,000 worth of fireworks for an event in Alcantara town.

Tecson said he will return to buy more  for the family celebration on the holidays.

Prices  will go up as the holidays come near.

“It will depend on the supply since we have products from barangay Babag in Mactan and some from Bulacan province. Once the demand increases and there is less supply they raise the prices of goods they sell to us, we have to charge more,” Ferrer said.

Vendors  pay P5,000  rent until the end of the year and more than P1,000 for the electricity bill.

More than  20 firecrackers stalls set up at the SRP area.  Vendors come  from Cebu City while some are from Lapu-Lapu City.

Philip Zafra, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), said they require vendors to sell their fireworks at uniform prices and to prioritize safety.

“The vendors are  the same in number as last year. Most of the rented stalls  are assigned based on a raffle,” Zafra said.