Party horn vendors drives firecracker traders away in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 31 (PNA) – There are more party horn vendors than firecracker traders in this city this year, which is good to the campaign of Department of Health to reduce if not achieve a zero firecracker injury, a city official said.

But even with the decline in firecrackers trade, personnel from the city police office and city fire department assured that they will make rounds in the city on New Year’s Eve, said Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin, the city’s acting mayor.

Yaokasin added that in his meeting with police and fire officials, they agreed to pass an ordinance that will establish a common firecracker vending area.

“You can see that firecracker vendors selling in the streets of the city displays their products on stalls made from light materials and they are close with each other. This is hazardous,” Yaokasin said.

In an ordinance, which they will be craft, firecracker vendors will be allowed to sell their commodities in open spaces like in Rizal Park and the City Engineers Gym.

“This is worth looking into that, allowing them to sell firecrackers in a specific place with a permit from the city. We need to really regulate selling of firecrackers because most of fire accidents and injuries during Yuletide season are caused by firecrackers,” he added.

Yaokasin is glad to see that most sidewalk vendors are selling party horns instead of firecrackers. Horns is being sold at Php35 to as much as Php75 each, depending on sizes.

Party horn vendor Lourdes Opana recalled that she used to sell firecrackers, but after the health department intensified their campaign against the use of firecracker during New Year’s celebration, she decided to change his product.

Her family makes the party horn for wholesale trading. Although Opana also sells some less dangerous firecrackers, she noted that most of her buyers opt to buy party horns. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA