Cases of firecracker-related injuries increased to 188 on Tuesday, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that this is higher compared to the 124 cases reported during the same period in 2023.
“As of 6 o’clock kaninang umaga, December 31, meron na po tayong 188 na kaso ng fireworks-related injuries. Ito po ay 52% na mas mataas kumpara noong 2023 na sa ganitong araw ay 124 cases pa lang ang naitatala natin,” he said.
(As of 6 o’clock this morning, December 31, we have monitored 188 cases of fireworks-related injuries. This is 52% higher compared to 2023 when on the same date, we had only recorded 124 cases.)
Most of the current total cases involved boga—an improvised cannon made from large PVC pipes and fueled by denatured alcohol—five star, and piccolo, according to Domingo.
He said most of the victims were around five to 19 years old. Most of the firecracker-related injuries were reported from Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Ilocos Region, and Central Visayas.
The DOH also expects the number of cases of firecracker-related injuries to increase during the New Year revelry. Last year, he said around 140 cases were reported during the midnight celebration alone.
To respond to the expected influx of emergency patients during the New Year celebration, Domingo said DOH hospitals and regional offices are on Code White Alert until January 6.
“Ibig sabihin po ng Code White ay handang-handa ang mga hospital, ang lahat ng mga doktor at nurse. Inaayos po ang mga schedules para ready po sila tumanggap ng mga pasyente. Ang lahat ng mga kagamitan ay naka-standby rin, yung mga para po doon sa kailangan putulin,” he said.
(Code White means all the hospitals, doctors, and nurses are ready. The schedules are adjusted so that they are ready to receive patients. All the equipment is also on standby for those that need amputation.)
Illegal firecrackers
Meanwhile, more than 530,000 illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics have been confiscated so far, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“More or less ang amount po nyan ay mga nasa P2.4 million,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo told Unang Balita in an interview.
Fajardo added that 19 people, including two minors, have been arrested in connection with illegal firecrackers and fireworks.
Fajardo noted the high number of cases of firecracker-related injuries caused by boga, an improvised cannon made from large PVC pipes and fueled by denatured alcohol.
“Malaki na po yung insidente natin involving boga po. As of yesterday po, nasa around 80 na po yung ating na-record na na-injure as a result po ng paggamit po ng boga. Nakakalungkot dahil mga minors yung mga biktima po dyan,” she said.
(The number of firecracker-related injuries due to boga is already high. As of yesterday, we have recorded around 80 people injured as a result of using boga. It’s sad because the victims are minors.)
Over 7,000 bogas have been confiscated so far, according to Fajardo.
—Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
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