MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday that 98 more firecracker-related injuries were recorded, raising the total to 236.
In a report, the DOH said the 236 cases were documented from Dec. 21, 2018 to Jan. 2, 2019 in 60 sentinel hospitals nationwide.
That figure is lower by 52 percent from the 428 cases registered during the same surveillance period for the previous New Year celebration.
Kwitis remains the leading cause of injuries with 55 cases, followed by luces with 20; piccolo with 19; boga with 18 and 5-star with 14 cases.
The DOH noted eight of the victims suffered amputation of limbs while 61 sustained eye injuries.
The ages of the victims ranged from two to 75 years old.
The agency added the regions with most cases are Metro Manila with 35; Ilocos with 22 and Western Visayas with 13 cases.
Aiming for zero casualty from firecrackers, the DOH has reiterated its position backing a total ban on firecrackers in the country.
According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, they cannot achieve a zero-casualty scenario if personal and household use of firecrackers will not be prohibited.
“The way to go is really for a total ban. The DOH has been consistent with this position – I think we’ve been supportive of a total ban,” he told reporters.
Duque said although this year’s celebration had posted a historic reduction of 68 percent as of 6 a.m. of Jan. 1 compared to the casualties last year, the DOH lamented that there are still individuals injured by firecrackers during the last New Year’s Eve revelry.
The DOH reported some 139 firecracker-related injuries from Dec. 21, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2019, a 68-percent decline from the same period last year when 428 cases were recorded.
But Duque admitted that an absolute ban on firecrackers would not be easy to implement if the welfare of those working in the industry will be considered.
“A total ban cannot be executed without (thinking of the workers). There is a need to identify alternative livelihood activities or programs for those who will be adversely affected. We cannot be reckless,” he noted.
The DOH chief said that alternative livelihood programs for fireworks industry workers should be put in place before firecrackers could be banned totally.
“This cannot just be within the domain of the DOH, it’s a collaboration of the Department of Trade, Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Finance because it has a lot of implications,” he added.
Pangasinan reported 77 cases of firecracker-related injuries from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, which was three percent lower than last year’s record, according to the Provincial Health Office.
Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman, provincial health officer of Pangasinan, said the most number of casualties were caused by kwitis with 25 victims.
Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, Central Luzon police director, said 90 fireworks-related injuries were reported in the region’s seven provinces.
The number of injuries this year is only 23 percent of the 390 cases reported in 2017.
Three persons were seriously injured in separate firecracker-related incidents in Baggao and Abulug, Cagayan on New Year’s Day. ?Police said Jaylord Ramos, 28, suffered eye and face injuries after a fountain sparkler exploded when he lighted the fireworks in Baggao.?The two others – Erick Jay Bunnao, 7, and Adonis Buquing, 8, – were also seriously injured while exploding an improvised cannon (boga) in Abulug town.
Zamboanga City police spokesman Senior Insp. Shellamie Chang reported that three residents suffered firecracker injuries.
Cotabato City officials reported that there were no firecracker-related casualties in the city. – With Eva Visperas, Raymund Catindig, Roel Pareño, John Unson, Ramon Efren Lazaro