The Philippine Fireworks Association (PFA) has opposed the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) plan to impose a total ban of selling firecrackers in the country.
Interviewed during Damdaming Bayan on Tuesday, Dec. 19, PFA President and Dragon Fireworks CEO and owner Joven Ong said the total ban would only worsen the cases of injuries and amputations nationwide as smugglers of firecrackers would become rampant.
"Ang sa akin whether anything na ito-total ban po, we will try to get in touch with the [DILG] Secretary Abalos and his take on the plight of our industry, and I'm pretty sure once he learns about all the things that are happening in the industry, he will also understand na hirap na hirap na rin po ang industriya," Ong said.
"Kailangan po namin talaga ang tulong ng secretary po na masugpo itong mga nagdududlot po ng aksidente atsaka ng mga nasasaktan tuwing New Year. Mabilis lang po talaga sugpuin 'yan kung hindi po total ban ang sagot po diyan," he added.
Ong believes that a total ban is not the right solution, saying that people could enjoy using the right size of firecrackers and pyrotechnics.
The PFA president stressed that legal manufacturers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics should not be the ones targeted, as illegal sellers are the ones causing accidents.
"Bakit natin ito-total ban ang mga legal tapos ang nire-reward po natin dito yung mga legal na sila po nagdudulot ng mga nyan yung sa Marikina yung mga sumasabog sa kung saaan saan nalang po," he said.
"Sila po yung mga iligil bakit po paruusuahan yung mga legal, dapat po sugpuin natin yung mga iligal. Dahil pag pinabawal po ang legal, susnod po lahat ng legal manufacturer," Ong added.
He believes that the total ban would only reward illegal firecracker sellers and that this might be the cause of their increase.
When asked about the demand and prices of firecrackers this year, Ong said the supply and demand are stable.
"Compared to last year there's more supply so supply and demand prices will be stable compared to last year, pero I don't know po kung supply will last until new year kasi nga po marami ang bumili ng maaga," he said.
