Tagbilaran authorities report zero firecracker-linked injuries

CEBU, Philippines - Revelers in Tagbilaran City may have defied authorities' call to stop the traditional use of firecrackers during the holidays, but there was no firecracker-related incidents reported during Christmas and hopefully during New Year's Eve.

The report said there were lesser firecrackers on sale this season due to city Mayor Baba Yap's move on no-issuance of permits to traders, but the latter however managed to get supplies from underground sources.

Some small-time sellers said in an interview yesterday that their make-shift firecracker stalls along the national highway of Taloto district were ordered dismantled by City Hall.

They appealed to the city government to allow them to sell firecrackers following the reported go-signal of barangay officials of Taloto, one of the sellers, who refused to be named.

However, children in some areas visited by The Freeman found other means to substitute firecrackers. They invented what they called boga-boga, made of canned goods container and converted into a cannon of sort by using denatured alcohol.

Meanwhile, hospitals remain on "white alert" during this season when potential incidents caused by firecracker explosion are expected.

Provincial Health Officer Cabagnot said the white alert is like "signal no. 1" of forthcoming typhoon and that it meant that hospitals are prepared, with fully stocked and available emergency medicines.

Cabagnot had called on the public to avoid using firecrackers in celebrating New Year. The Department of Health this year has launched a drive dubbed as Mahalaga ang Buhay, Iwasan ang Paputok. — Ric V. Obedencio (FREEMAN)