New Year ‘war zones’ identified; injuries hit 170

MANILA, Philippines - With the number of fireworks-related injuries increasing to 170, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday identified some of the most dangerous places in the country in terms of firecracker use.

The DOH also called on authorities to implement a massive crackdown on oversized firecrackers.

Based on the DOH’s Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction Registry, there are now 170 injuries from firecrackers.

“This is 10 percent higher than the five-year (2008-2012) average and three (two percent) cases higher compared to the same time period last year,” the DOH said.

Of the 170 cases, 164 were due to firecrackers and 49 of them were children less than 10 years old. The ages of the victims ranged from one to 65 years.

The DOH registry revealed 78 of the cases came from Metro Manila, followed by Region 9 with 17 cases. The number of fireworks ingestion remains at one and five, respectively.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) added 10 cases of injuries from stray bullets – three in Metro Manila, two in Region 4A, one in Region 5, two in Region 6, one in the Cordillera region, and another case in Region 12 since Dec. 16.

Citing DOH records from 2010 and 2012, Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag identified Quezon City, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Valenzuela, Marikina, Manila and Las Piñas as the “most dangerous” for fireworks injuries.

The “most dangerous barangays,” on the other hand, are Pinagbuhatan, Bagong Ilog, Pineda, Bambang, San Miguel, Kapasigan, San Joaquin and Kalawaan in Pasig; Malanday, Concepcion Uno, Parang. and Sto. Niño in Marikina; Pulang Lupa Uno, BF International Village, Talon Dos, Pulang Lupa Dos and Fajardo in Las Piñas.

Also included in the list are Gen. T. de Leon, Marulas, Karuhatan, Canumay, Malinta and Parada in Valenzuela; Addition Hills, Hulo, Barangka Drive, Poblacion, San Jose and Plainview in Mandaluyong; District 3 Barangay 268-394, Binondo, Quiapo, San Nicolas, Sta. Cruz, District 2 Barangay 147-267 East Tondo, and District 1, Barangays 1-146, West Tondo, also in Manila.

Records also showed the use of piccolo, considered illegal by the authorities, accounted for most of the firecracker injuries among children, with 101 cases.

Tayag lamented piccolo and other illegal and oversized firecrackers are sold openly in some places in Metro Manila.

He cited citizen reports of “inadequate” implementation of laws by the police and local officials on the sale of illegal firecrackers.

“DOH urges PNP to crack down on piccolo and other banned fireworks. Citizen report (showed) piccolo openly sold along Libertad, Pasay Road near police station,” Tayag said.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima ordered an intensified crackdown on illegal firecrackers. – Mike Frialde, Janvic Mateo