By
Julie G. Fianza
BAGUIO CITY – Regional and city health authorities,
police and fire officers collectively agreed to push for a total ban of use,
sale and manufacture of firecrackers through a city ordinance in the wake of
injuries caused by legally-bought pyros.
Self-imposed discipline
and cooperation was also recommended.
These were agreed upon during a media forum at Dept.
of Health regional training center Thursday morning.
Department of Health regional director Dr.
Amelita Pangilinan; Pangilinan said firecracker injuries occurred despite scare
tactics used like graphics showing gory details of body injuries due to
firecrackers.
Earlier campaigns against
firecrackers showed how to properly use said pyros, with more injuries treated
in the hospitals.
A comparative report yielded a
regional count of fireworks and firecracker related injuries of 70 in 2014 and
61 in 2015. Reports in 2011, 2012 and 2013 showed 50 to 58 cases per
year.
Provinces that registered a decrease in said
incidents were Abra, from 29 in 2014 to 25 to 2015; Kalinga, from 1 case in
2014 to zero in 2015; and Mountain Province; 6 in 2014 and a single case in
2015.
No data is registered in 2014
for Ifugao, and a case in 2015; while Apayao had 14 cases in 2014 and 2015;
Baguio City’s 9 cases in 2014 upped to 11 in 2015. There was an increase from 6
cases in 2014 to 9 in 2015, in Benguet Province. Said cases were reported Dec.
21 2015 up to midnight of Jan. 5, 2016.
City Health Officer Rowena Galpo reported that aside
from the 11 cases, there is a case from Itogon, Benguet and another from
Urdaneta, Pangasinan. Monitoring was done in seven sentinel hospitals in the
city.
A signature campaign for a total firecracker ban is
ongoing until January 28; it was known from Fire Officer Jesus Yango.
Baguio City deputy police
director Laureano Alexis Marinas reported that there were no incidents of
indiscriminate firing among soldiers and policemen including private gun-owners
and security guards. This, Marinas said, is attributed to an active campaign;
headed by City Mayor Mauricio Domogan. Gun muzzle taping was also done.
The Commission on Election’s
ban of gun replicas also apply, Marinas said.
The Department of Trade and Industry, represented by
lawyer Samuel Gallardo, advocated responsible consumerism.
Monitoring of firecrackers was
done, including imposition of safety stickers for other holiday materials,
including toys and lights. Penalties await violators, he said.
Bureau of Fire Protection regional office
representative Josesito Dollente reported there were no firecracker-related fire
incidents.
Fire incidents were mostly due
to faulty electrical wiring, unattended cooking and negligence over lighting
materials.
From the Police Regional
Office, Senior SInsp. Gemma Braganza of police community relations office
reported a total of P76,410 worth of firecrackers was confiscated with 221
regional operations. Abra yielded P21,140 worth; Apayao - P530; Baguio -
P52,425; Kalinga - P2,315; while Benguet, Ifugao and Mt. Province had no
confiscations done.
Though thankful for a
zero-casualty report, Dr. Pangilinan clarified that the 61 cases may still
increase pending reports from other areas.
She said she was hopeful
firecracker-related injuries would decrease next year.
The theme for the
no-firecracker campaign was, “Sa Ingay Walang Sablay, Sa Paputok Goodbye Kamay,
Kaya ‘Wag Pasaway.”
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