The Department of Health (DOH) reported four more cases of fireworks-related injuries, bringing the total number of victims to 12.
The DOH said two of the new cases were boys aged 11 and 17 who used piccolo and boga which are considered as illegal fireworks, based on the DOH’s fireworks-related injury surveillance report logged from 6:00 a.m. of December 23 to 5:59 a.m. of December 24.
The agency added that the two other new cases included a 23-year-old male and a 49-year-old female who used kwitis at home.
The DOH pointed out that while kwitis is a legal and regulated firework, those that are lit inside houses can harm individuals.
The agency also urged local government officials, as well as the private sector to organize community fireworks displays instead.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian meanwhile reiterated his call for a ban on the sale, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices ahead of the New Year festivities.
“While significant reductions in the number of fireworks-related injuries have happened over the years due to greater government regulation, it would be ideal to further reduce, if not eliminate, fireworks-related injuries by prohibiting any person or business establishment to manufacture, sell, discharge firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices except for authorized fireworks displays,” Gatchalian said.
“As much as we want to enjoy the holiday festivities, it remains crucial to ensure our celebrations are conducted with utmost safety and well-being in mind,” he emphasized.
The senator earlier filed Senate Bill 1144, which if enacted into law, will be called the Firecrackers Prohibition Act, amending Republic Act 7183, also known as An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution, and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices.
Gatchalian’s proposed measure provides an exception to the prohibition of firecrackers. Entities requiring the use of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices must secure a special permit from the PNP Fire and Explosives Office and any fireworks display must be done only by professionals who are technically equipped with skills and knowledge on the use of firecrackers.
“The public should be mindful of the psychological trauma and anxiety disorders that they may experience due to firecracker-related explosions,” Gatchalian said.
“There are firecracker victims annually. We are also calling yearly that there are many other ways to celebrate New Year,” Gatchalian said.
The lawmaker noted that even with the issuance of Executive Order No. 28, which provides for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, injuries related to firecracker use continue to persist.