Following the policy of the national government to limit firecracker use to welcome the new year, sales of fireworks in Bulacan have reportedly dropped by as much as 70 percent.
The figure came from Police Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez Jr., a native of San Miguel, Bulacan. According to the police official, traders and manufacturers of fireworks and firecrackers informed him about the drop in their sales.
Under Executive Order No. 28, local governments were instructed to observe strict regulation on the use of firecrackers.
This year, sales have gone down by an average of 50 to 70 percent, but there’s another observable consequence.
According to the traders, a huge number of people from Metro Manila and areas near Bulacan used to flock to Bocaue before the New Year’s Eve celebration, creating heavy traffic along Gov. Halili Avenue and MacArthur Highway.
Mendez also said that the strict regulation has also sparked apprehension among fireworks enthusiasts.
According to the Department of Labor and Employment, fireworks manufacturers and wholesalers in Bulacan have passed safety standards. Still, multi-agency efforts have intensified the campaign for lesser firecracker injuries for 2017.
The Philippine National Police also limited the areas for firecracker use. It released a list of approved community firecracker use and fireworks display areas in various towns nationwide.
