Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31) — The number of injuries due to firecrackers is down by nearly half this year, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
Health officials reported there are only 86 firecracker injuries from December 21 to 31, compared to 162 cases recorded in the same period last year.
Fifty-one percent, or 44 reported injuries, were from the National Capital Region. Majority of the injured were males, at 82 percent.
Around 74 percent of the injuries were caused by the use of illegal fireworks, with most sustaining wounds from an illegal firecracker piccolo.
The Department of Interior and Local Government earlier clarified that households can neither purchase nor use the piccolo, Super Lolo, Whistle Bomb, Goodbye Earth, Judas Belt, and Watusi.
Any firecracker with gunpowder exceeding two grams, or 1.3 teaspoons is also prohibited.
The Health Department said there have been no instances of firecracker ingestion or stray bullet incidents.
The Duterte administration’s Executive Order (EO) No. 28 confines firecracker use to community displays, “to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties.”
