People begin flocking to Bocaue, Bulacan for fireworks, firecrackers

People have started heading for Bocaue, Bulacan to buy different types of fireworks in time for the New Year revelry.

Aerial fireworks in Bocaue range from P800 to P1,200 (depending their type), according to a "Balitanghali" report on Thursday by Darlene Cay.

Firecrackers on sale in Bocaue include:

• Saturn missiles - P200 for four pcs.
• Baby rockets - P400 per box
• Magic Walis - P400 per box
• Chinese firecrackers - P600 for 1000 rings or one box
• Luces - P35 to P55 for 10 pcs.
• Kwitis - P400 for 100 pcs.
• Fountain - P20 to P250
• Sinturon ni Hudas - 50 per 100 pcs.
• Trompillo - P70 per pc.

Carl Lim from Laguna headed for Bocaue before dawn on Thursday with his friends to by fireworks.

"Eh kasi mas mura eh, baka kasi sayang din, at least makakatipid kami kasi mas maraming mabili. Kaysa pagka du'n bibili medyo mas iba 'yung price," said on Balitanghali.

Lim said it has been their tradition to light fireworks to welcome the New Year.

"Mostly puro aerial lang kasi for blessing ng bahay kasi siyempre bagong bahay. So, bagong aura, we need paputok talaga para ma-feel 'yung vibes sa bahay. Pagdating ng 12 o'clock papaputukin lahat."

With hordes of people streaming to Bocaue, stocks of fireworks have started to run out.

"Okay lang, mabenta naman. Pagkatapos ng Pasko ayun na, dagsa na ang mga tao niyan tapos tuloy-tuloy na 'yan hanggang January 31 ng gabi," said vendor John Mhar Azares.

However, the influx of people is still expected to peak on December 29 up to 31, and with the high demand on those days, prices of fireworks are expected to increase.

Some consumers even look for louder but prohibited firecrackers.

Vendors who have permits and licenses however reminded buyers that banned firecrackers are not for sale.

Banned firecrackers

Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government issued a list of of prohibited firecrackers, including:

•     Watusi
•     Picolo
•     Super lolo
•     Atomic Triangle
•     Large Judas Belt
•     Large Bawang
•     Pillbox
•     Boga
•     Goodbye Philippines
•     Bin Laden
•     Mother Rocket
•     Lolo Thunder
•     Coke-in-can
•     Atomic Bomb
•     Five Star
•     Pla-pla
•     Giant Whistle Bomb
•     Kabasi

Those caught using these firecrackers would face six months to 1 year of prison time and will be fined P30,000. —Jamil Santos/LBG, GMA News