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[av_heading heading=’Selling ’crackers still viable business? Vendors unsure ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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ILOILO City – Vendors cannot say for certain if selling firecrackers is still a viable business, what with the many regulations they have to contend with.
They wanted to have a decent income before the New Year but their hope was faint.
One of the many factors they saw affecting their sales was the “late” issuance of Mayor Jose Espinosa III’s Executive Order (EO) No. 151.
The EO, issued on Dec. 22, designates only two areas in the city where selling firecrackers is allowed – on the corner of Circumferential Road 1 and Jocson Street, Arevalo district and the corner of Circumferential Road 1 and Iloilo East Coast-Capiz highway in the vicinity of Ondoy’s Sugbahan in Barangay Buhang, Jaro.
“Kon early pa na-release ang executive order ni mayor, tani nakatemprano kami patindog baligyaan,” said a firecracker vendor who identified herself only as “Nene.”
Nene said the capital depends on the vendor’s financial capability.
She said her capital this year was the same as last year’s. She did not disclose how much exactly.
Nene also noted that, in the previous years, their products – except the expensive ones – would get sold out within four days.
“Last year ma-estimate mo kon pila income mo,” she told this reporter. “Subong waay pa kasiguraduhan.”
Another vendor, 35-year-old Joann Gonzales of Barangay Boulevard, Molo, doubted their chances of earning much this year.
“Duwa-duwa guro, kag ang amon nga capital hinulaman lang na nga daan, basi pierde pa kami sang kakapoy namon,” Gonzales said.
Aside from Espinosa’s EO No. 151, President Rodrigo Duterte also issued in June EO No. 28, limiting the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in the country by confining their use to community fireworks display.
These may have discouraged manufacturers, Gonzales said.
The limited supply forced the vendors to raise their prices, she said.
“Ang presyo sang isa ka palupok subong sang una pangduha inâ,” said Gonzales./PN
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