The COVID-19 pandemic and the financial crisis faced by consumers resulted in the substantial drop in the sales of firecrackers and fireworks during the holiday season.
Alan Pacheco, president of the Bacolod City Firecrackers and Fireworks Vendors Association, said their Dec. 24 and 25 sales were a far cry from the year-ago level when their individual income reached almost P30,000 each on Christmas Day.
This time, majority managed to bring home only P2,000 each, he claimed.
Buyers were scarce this year, Pacheco noted, adding that out-of-town customers did not venture to go to Bacolod because of strict health protocols imposed by their local government units.
Some 46 firecrackers and fireworks product retailers from Bacolod were given permits by the Philippine National Police-Regional Civil Security Unit this year, lower than the 62 sellers last year.
This is because some of his members decided not to continue with the business also due to strict requirements of PNP-RCSU, Pacheco said.
They started their selling activities last Dec. 23 at the area provided by the city government at the back of the St. John Paul II Tower at the Bacolod Reclamation Area.
Aside from the usual business permit from the city government, they also paid the PNP-RCSU special permit as required before they can display their goods, he said.
Each stall owner has a minimum capital of P100,000.
Most of their supplies came from Manila and Bulacan, Pacheco said.
Pacheco remains hopeful though on their Dec. 30 and 31 sales.
If LGUs outside of Bacolod will loosen up their protocols, out-of-town buyers can give them a better income since they buy in bulk or in big volumes during the last two days of December.
Police Col. Ariel Pico, spokesperson of Bacolod City Police Office, meanwhile, said the low firecracker sales may also be attributed to fewer people using them to celebrate Christmas.
Pico said due to the people’s fear of getting COVID-19 when they go out or simply because of the tight financial situation, their priority is to buy food for the family especially during the Media Noche or Noche Buena.
Pico said that during the nine days of the Aguinaldo masses, the 10 BCPO stations have not received any firecracker-related incidents.
Only minor cases of violation of minimum health protocols were recorded instead, he added. – MML
