Fireworks sales slump in 2015

MANILA, Philippines - The sale of firecrackers and other fireworkslumped this year as the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association (PPMDA) pointed to the iwas paputok (stay away from firecrackers) campaign as impacting heavily on the industry.

Lea Alapide, PPMDA president, said it was the first time in 25 years that the industry in Bocaue, Bulacan province registered low sales, estimated at about 50 percent from previous, and record losses.

She also lamented that some police operatives simply confiscate products, even those allowed under Republic Act 7183 or the Firecracker Law, thus contributing to their losses.

“I pity our stakeholders who went through this (abuse). It is hard to recover the capital,” Alapide added.

Alapide told The STAR that several fireworks dealers in Bocaue are thinking of venturing into other businesses as more Filipinos heed the call to stay away from firecrackers.

Director Joel Pagdilao, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, directed his units to crack down on the banned firecracker piccolo, which the Department of Health reported as having caused 70 percent of the more than 500 injuries when people welcomed 2015.

As of noon yesterday, the NCRPO confiscated 300 boxes of piccolo in raids conducted in Divisoria, Binondo and other parts of Metro Manila.

Pagdilao also tasked the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Special Reaction Units (SRU) teams to continue patrolling the streets and arrest people selling banned items or seen indiscriminately firing their weapons.

Both the Manila and Quezon City Police District offices also tapped their special units to root out illegal and harmful firecrackers.

Those caught manufacturing, selling, distributing and buying illegal fireworks could be jailed from six months to one year and fined P20,000 to P30,000.

As of noon yesterday, the DOH reported 181 cases of firecracker-related injuries since Dec. 21. Of these, 149 were children below 14 years old, 133 caused by piccolo. – With Non Alquitran, Robertzon Ramirez, Sheila Crisostomo, Rey Galupo