MANILA, Philippines — Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III considers their campaign banning the use of firecrackers in the New Year revelry a success.
This, after the department on Wednesday, reported around 164 cases of firecracker-related injuries amid the festivity.
This is lower by 87 cases from the 2019 record of 251.
At a press conference at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), Duque said the number is 71% lower than the five-year average of 403 cases.
He attributed this decrease to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 28 issued in 2017 which regulates the use of firecrackers.
“Data would show that indeed the downward trend became evident since the president issued out E.O. 28.” he said.
Duque also underscored that the information campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) about firecrackers — which includes the promotion of community fireworks displays — in causing the downward trend of such cases.
The health secretary also acknowledged the efforts of local government units and the media in the information dissemination on firecrackers.
Based on data from Dec. 21, 2019 to January 1, 2020, the National Capital Region has recorded the most number of cases with 84, followed by CALABARZON with 13 cases.
Most of the victims were male between the ages of one and 71 years old.
Most of the injuries were blasts and burns, which totaled 71 cases reported. This was followed by eye injuries with 26 cases.
Most of the injuries were due to kwitis, luces, fountain, piccolo, and baby rocket.
Duque noted that legal firecrackers caused 69% of all injuries.
The DOH also confirmed that there were no injuries due to stray bullet, fireworks ingestion or deaths recorded amid the revelry. — (with details from Asher Cadapan, Jr.) /mbmf
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