Manila: The number of injuries related to the holiday merrymaking about as many as that reported from the past year---debunking initial government claims of a significant drop in the number of cases.
The presidential communications and operations office, in as statement released on January 1, said: "This year's New Year celebration was generally peaceful with firecracker-related injuries dropping to 13 per cent from last year's record."
But a statement issued by the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said that claims of a significant drop in the number of cases is not entirely true and that the presidential communication's office spoke too soon before waiting for actual on the ground figures.
Despite an aggressive drive by the government to discourage firecracker use, Filipinos persist to cling to tradition despite the dangers.
"This year, the number of injuries reported from designated reporting hospitals around the country to the Department of Health (DOH) reached a total of 1,021 which was one case fewer than the same period last year…" according to a statement posted in the DOH website on Friday.
Interestingly, "the latest figure is 27 cases higher than the yearly average in the previous five years (2006-2010)."
Of the latest cases, 987 or 97 per cent were firework related, 29 or three per cent were due to stray bullets and 5 per cent were cases of firework ingestion. "Four died this year; three from firework related injuries and one from stray bullet," the DOH said.
Half of the firework injury cases involved individuals below the age of 15. Also, 53 per cent were active users and the rest were by-standers. Most of the injuries took place in the National Capital Region or 590 or 60 per cent.
About 446 or 45 per cent were due to illegal fireworks. The parts of the body most often injured were hands/fingers 45 per cent. Most of the injuries were burns 80, and amputations 58 required amputations.
Despite the obvious dangers, and the attendant pollution such practice causes, the use of firecrackers appear to be an indispensable part of holiday merrymaking among Filipinos who took to the tradition from the Spanish. The Philippines has been a colony of the Spain for more than 300 years.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said: "We are taking the results of this year's campaign as a good sign of the effectivity of our positive campaigning. Next year, we are determined to pursue a better and more aggressive strategy".
Fireworks manufacturing, legal or otherwise, is a multi-million industry in the country and families depend on it for livelihood as much as as legitimate companies.
The DOH is pushing for a total ban on individual firecracker use and is considering recommendations from various stakeholders.
"The traditional New Year celebration is one of the merriest occasions for Filipino families. It is sad however that many get injured in the midst of the festivities. I call on everyone to look into alternative ways of celebrating the holidays, so that in the coming years we can significantly reduce or eliminate firecracker injuries," the health chief appealed.
Some of the recommendations include total ban on individual use of firecrackers, pursuing instead public fireworks displays supervised by professionals hired by local governments or private sector.
