Firecracker injuries in Region 8 down 58%

PALO, Leyte, Jan. 5  -- Injuries from holiday revelries in Eastern Visayas posted a 58 percent drop this year as less people ignited firecrackers and fireworks to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

The Department of Health (DOH) regional epidemiology and surveillance unit reported that cases went down to 44 from 98 as of midnight of January 5.

The most serious case was in Eastern Samar where a child’s left index finger was amputated after igniting a piccolo.

Piccolo, commonly used by children is the main cause of blast injuries, comprising 65 percent of victims. The youngest victim is two years old and the oldest is 73, but more than half of victims were below 11 years old.

“The campaign to avoid firecrackers was successful, but we are saddened that there are still reported injuries despite the Executive Order issued by President Rodrigo Duterte regulating the use of firecrackers,” said DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon.

Of the 44 blast victims reported, 16 are in Northern Samar, 15 in Eastern Samar, five in Leyte, five in Samar, two in Southern Leyte, and one in Biliran.

“Firecrackers are widely available in Samar provinces because of its access to manufacturers in Luzon. Our plan is to launch our ‘IwasPaputok’ campaign next year in Samar to raise public awareness there,” Molon told reporters on Friday.

The information drive will not only focus on firecrackers available in the market, but other forms of explosives considering that people are “innovative.”
The health department also recorded injuries for using “lantaka” or homemade bazooka and bottle filled with soda mixed with chlorine.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Insp. Ma Bella Rentuaya said nobody was hit by stray bullet with zero incidence of indiscriminate firing in the region.

“We conducted 16 operations against firecrackers trade leading to seizures of two truckloads of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in Ormoc City worth PHP2 million,” Rentuaya said.

The government has launched its monitoring of Christmas and New Year revelries on December 16, 2017 and concluded on January 5, 2018.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed on June 20, 2017 Executive Order 28 limiting the use of firecrackers in the country. The directive confines the use of firecrackers to “community fireworks display.”

According to the EO, a community fireworks display is “conducted under the supervision of a trained person duly licensed by the Philippine National Police.” (SQM/PNA)