DOH together with other government agencies in the launching of this year’s anti-firecracker campaign.
MANILA, Philippines — An anti-firecrackers campaign launched last year by the Department of Health was considered a success due to zero casualties.
Aside from this there was a 16% decrease among the number of cases of firecracker-related injuries in 2014 compared to 2013.
From more than a thousand in 2013, it went down to 860 cases in 2014.
The highest firecracker related injuries was recorded in National Capital Region, followed by Ilocos Region, Western Visayas, Calabarzon and other parts of the country.
Most of the firecracker-related injuries recorded by the DOH in 2014 were due to piccolo.
Piccolo is a firecracker usually manufactured in China and smuggled into the Philippines.
This year the Bureau of Customs is conducting strict monitoring in all entry points to ensure that these illegal firecrackers cannot enter the country.
Just this year around 24 million pesos worth of illegal products were confiscated by the BOC, including piccolo.
Assistant Chief Rnvironmental Protection Unit-BOC Lt. Angelito Cruz said, “It’s misdecalred items, if you have no intelligence information regarding the contents, it would really be difficult for us.”
And since holiday season is approaching, the Department of Health launched on Monday their anti-firecracker campaign with the theme “Sa Ingay Walang Sablay, Sa Paputok Goodbye Kamay”.
DOH’s partners in this project include PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Education, BOC, MMDA and the environmental group the Ecowaste Coalition.
Along with the launch of the campaign, these groups are also appealing for the creation and approval of a law that will implement the total ban of firecrackers in the markets to avoid any possible accidents.
A recent incident with a child involving the mishandling of a piccolo in Ilocos Norte had DOH greatly worried.
DOH Sec. Janet Garin relayed, “Yan pa lang ang naireport. Hopefully, sana wala na nga, pero ikinababahala natin ito kasi masyadong maaga. Ibig sabihin, nasa market na yung mga nagbebenta o nakatago na. So, kung may alam kayong nagbebenta ng piccolo, sabihan nyo. Bawal ito at pwede silang hulihin ng kapulisan.”
(That’s the only reported incident so far. Hopefully it’s the last, but it’s still too early to tell. This means the firecrackers are already in the market. So if you have any information on vendors of piccolo, inform us. This (piccolo) is prohibited and vendors can be arrested by the police.)
In case of firecracker incidents, the DOH reminds the public to wash the wounds with clean water until all firecracker powder has been washed off, and go to the nearest hospital for immediate medical treatment. (JOAN NANO / UNTV News)
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