Firecracker traders back in business

RETAILERS and manufacturers in Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City resumed selling firecrackers and pyrotechnics after they received an information that they can continue their operation.

However, the prices increased due to high demand and less supply.

Babag has been known for manufacturing firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

Floredo Baraquil, president of Rambolet Pyro Corp. (RPC), said they had to decline orders from some customers because they could no longer meet the demnd.

“Naay order di na madali og trabaho. Naay nabalibaran kay di maapas... tungod atong stoppage order. Karon dungan-dungan, wa na mi ikahatag (There were orders but we can no longer accommodate them. We have to decline some customers. When the stoppage order was lifted in the compliant manufacturers in Babag, customers simultaneously ordered, but we can no longer meet the demand),” he said.

According to Baraquil, manufacturers in Babag got the go signal from the authorities just this week, following the stoppage order of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) shutting down all firecracker and pyrotechnic companies in the country.

The order was lifted for compliant manufacturers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

When the stoppage order was implemented, five of the 10 puroks in Babag were directly affected, according to Babag Barangay Captain Epifania Augusto.

License

RPC and only two individuals have the license to manufacture in Babag. RPC has 43 members. Baraquil said retailers had already secured a permit to display firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

“Ok na man tanan pero uwahi nalang (We are back but it’s late now),” he said.

Since there is a low supply, prices of firecrackres and pyrotechnics have increased.

For instance, a small fountain has a factory price of P7, but the retail price already ranges from P10 to P12.

A big fountain with a factory price of P25 will now cost P40 to 50 in the retail centers.

In order to prevent any accident, retailers sell along the M.L. Quezon Highway in Barangays Calawisan and Babag while they have a separate storage area.

Baraquil said the officials of Bureau of Fire Protection will inspect Babag if the everyone displayed their firecrackers in the designated area.