A call by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. for a nationwide ban on the use of firecrackers to celebrate the New Year would kill the local pyrotechnics industry.
Most fireworks makers interviewed by DAILY TRIBUNE in Bocaue, Bulacan shared this sentiment and asked Abalos to rethink his stand.
"We hope he would reconsider and study it better. A lot of people live off this industry, not just us. This industry of Bocaue will die," said Len Valeriano, the owner of Liam Fireworks Store along Governor F. Halili Avenue.
She said even though they have increased the prices of their products by 5 to 15 percent, more than the revenue would be needed to regain the losses they incurred, especially during the pandemic.
"As we say, our dreams to bring back the vibrancy of the industry have gone up in smoke. And the pandemic came. We were really down. We can never reach again our pre-pandemic sales. Then there's this proposal (of Abalos)," she rued.
Many of their customers, she said, have not returned, adding they may have chosen to spend their money on food and clothing for Christmas rather than buy fireworks.
"We hope sales will pick up. It's so slow," she said.
Assistant Secretary for Consumer Protection Group Amanda Nograles of the Department of Trade and Industry said a nationwide fireworks ban would injure the industry, especially the micro, small, and medium enterprises.
"I agree that it will greatly affect the industry. The DTI supports the industry and businesses and protects the consumers. On our list, we have 15 licensed manufacturers of fireworks and firecrackers in the Philippines who have hundreds of workers, who will be directly affected if the nationwide ban is imposed," Nograles told reporters during their inspection in Bocaue on Thursday.
She said the manufacturers follow Philippine National Police and DTI regulations to ensure their products are safe.
The PNP issues licenses to fireworks manufacturers, while the DTI ensures that the fireworks pass the Bureau of Philippine Standards and bear import commodity clearance or ICC marks.
"But if the nationwide ban will be implemented, we will defer to the agencies that have the mandate to implement that, namely, the DILG and the PNP," she said.
During the inspection, two stores selling questionable pyrotechnics were flagged while the products were confiscated.
And as fireworks are seasonal and special products, not necessities and prime commodities, Nograles said the DTI is hands-off in regulating its prices, meaning the sellers can increase or decrease their prices.