MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Department of Health on Monday said the agency will be concluding its count of firecracker-related casualties on January 5.
In a radio interview, DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag said they are expecting some people to light up the firecrackers days after the New Year revelry.
"Yung iba ngayon pa lang nagpapaputok...kaya hindi pa kami na kampante...huwag na gamitin yung paputok na yan at huwag na huwag mamumulot ng paputok," Tayag said.
He added that some of the victims injured by firecrackers will go to hospitals a day or two days after the incident.
The DOH has recorded 171 firecracker-related injuries from seven hospitals in Metro Manila from 6 p.m. of Dec. 31, 2012 up to 6 a.m. of Jan. 1, 2013.
DOH officials visited several hospitals in Metro Manila where most of the victims have been brought for treatment, including Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center and Valenzuela Medical Center.
Aside from the firecracker-related injuries, the DOH also recorded one fatality and 10 wounded due to stray bullets.
The DOH will be updating the figures around 1 p.m. today.