New Year’s Eve last Sunday was uncharacteristically quiet in the Philippines because of a new executive order limiting the use of firecrackers. But while the traditional noisemakers were missed, the Department of Health (DOH) announced yesterday that the order also led to fewer injuries compared to the previous year.
The DOH recorded 191 firecracker injuries from Dec. 21, 2017 — Jan. 1, 2018, a big difference from the 604 injuries recorded from Dec. 21, 2016 — Jan. 2, 2017.
In June, President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order mandating that the use of firecrackers be limited to government-authorized community fireworks displays. This means that people can no longer use firecrackers from their homes, a common practice in the Philippines.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press conference yesterday that 115 of the injuries were from the National Capital Region, where Manila is located. Other regions that had the most cases were Western Visayas with 15 and Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol region with 13 reported cases each. More than half of the victims were men aged between 11 months and 96 years old.
Duque also told Rappler yesterday that they are thinking about recommending a total ban on firecrackers.
“I think the end goal really is to ban fireworks completely. And I think eventually that should be the ultimate goal,” he said.
He assured though that the DOH, together with the Department of Labor and Employment, will make sure to provide alternative sources of livelihood for firecracker vendors should the total ban be approved.
Looks like we might have to say “bye” to more New Years Eve celebrations like this:
