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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Region 12 is hoping to finally achieve “zero casualty” in terms of firecracker-related injuries this coming Christmas and New Year holidays, with the rollout of an executive order (EO) that regulates the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

Jenny Ventura, coordinator of DOH-12’s Iwas Paputok Program, said Wednesday they expect the full compliance by residents of EO 28, which mainly limits the use of firecrackers and related devices in the entire country.

“We’ve been campaigning for this every year but there were still residents who keep using firecrackers. Hopefully, this will stop with the new EO,” she said.

Under EO 28, which was signed last June by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Ventura said the use of firecrackers is now prohibited in households.

She said it specifically provided that “the use of firecrackers shall henceforth be confined to community fireworks display.”

Such move was aimed to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties, especially during the Christmas and New Year revelries, she said.

Ventura said they are currently coordinating with local government units in the region for the identification of community fireworks display areas.

She said the proposed sites should pass the assessment of the Bureau of Fire Protection and local police units.

On Tuesday, the DOH-12 formally launched its region-wide campaign for zero firecracker-related injuries in line with the start of their monitoring period on Friday, Dec. 15.

As in the previous years, the agency’s monitoring, in close coordination with rural health units, will run until the New Year.

Last year, DOH-12 recorded a total of 48 firecracker-related injuries, a significant drop from the 193 cases in 2015.

South Cotabato province posted the most number of injuries with 31, followed by this city with six, North Cotabato and Sarangani with four each and Sultan Kudarat with three.
Banned firecracker piccolo caused most of the injuries, especially among children, and majority of the victims were males.

The youngest recorded victim was a 2 month-old baby who was injured on the eyes by a wayward firecracker, DOH-12 said.

Aside from the regulated use of firecrackers, its selling is also prohibited in all public areas like markets and business establishments.

Supt. Roldan Daniel, chief of the Police Regional Office-12’s civil security unit, said violators may face a fine of P20,000 to P30,000 and other penalties.

“That’s regardless of the amount of firecrackers they are selling,” he said.

He said police units in the region have started their monitoring and enforcement activities for the possible entry of illegal firecrackers.(PNA) DECEMBER 2017



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