Some NCR hospitals seeing less FWRI cases, but severe injuries

Some hospitals in Metro Manila are seeing fewer patients of fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) as Filipinos welcomed 2026, but noted that patients’ injuries are more severe.

In a Super Radyo dzBB on Thursday, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) officer-in-charge Dr. Zharlah Gulmatico-Flores said they have handled 67 FWRIs since December 21, 2025 and that they are attending to 39 FWRIs for New Year’s Day so far.

Although the current tally is lower than last year’s records, Gulmatico-Flores noted that patients’ injuries from firecrackers are more severe this year.

“Ang pinakabatang nagpunta satin ay mga three years old po. Mga slight burn lang sa face po niya, sa leg po niya, at saka sa kanyang chest area… Ang medyo kawawa naman na nagpunta satin ay tatanggalan ng mata dahil naputukan siya sa sinindihan niyang paputok. Mayroon po tayong two na di na po kumpleto [ang mga daliri] po,” she said over dzBB.

(The youngest we treated was around three years old. The child had slight burns on the face, leg, and chest area… The most pitiful we treated will now need to have the eyes removed because a firecracker exploded in the person’s face. We also have two people who no longer have a complete set of fingers.)

Asked if there was an improvement or fewer cases of FWRI, Gulmatico-Flores said: “Kahit papaano po, kaso mas malala po ang injuries na tinamo ngayon ng mga pasyente natin.”

(There is some [improvement], but the injuries sustained by our patients this year are more severe.)

She added that they also have a high number of road accidents at 102 cases.

“Motorsiklo po, sanhi ng kalasingan po, tapos siyempre damay na po ang kanilang mga nabangga po,” she said.

(Motorcycle accidents due to the influence of alcohol, and then the number includes the victims that they hit.)

Meanwhile, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC) Medical Center Chief II Dr. Imelda Mateo said they saw less than 50% of their previous FWRI record and have no admissions so far.

“Medyo mild lang po tayo compared to last year pero di pa natin masasabi kasi January 1 pa lang. Usually, hanggang January 5 talaga ang tinitignan naming related sa fireworks related injuries o firecrackers,” she shared.

(It’s a bit mild compared to last year but we still can’t say because it’s only January 1. Usually, we look at fireworks related injuries or firecrackers until January 5.)

“Thirteen [cases lang] po as of this early morning, which is less than half of what we have in 2025. Natutuwa po kami and sana mamaintain natin na ganyang kababa pa rin,” she added.

(Thirteen cases as of this early morning, which is less than half of what we have in 2025. We are happy with this and hope that we will be able to keep it this low.)

Earlier, Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said it was still too early to determine the final count of FWRIs, but noted that the trend was showing lower numbers.

As of 4 a.m. on January 1, DOH has logged a total of 235 FWRIs nationwide.

In a separate dzBB interview, Tondo Medical Center General Surgeon Dr. Ryan Ray Villamayor said their FWRI tally as of 8 a.m. on January 1 already exceeded their 2025 record.

“Mas marami na siya compared sa last year... Nadagdagan na po kasi nung 2024, total namin hanggang January 6 is 65 patients, pero ngayong January 1 pa lang, 66 na nakita namin at we are expecting na madagdagan sa susunod na araw po,” he said.

(We already have more cases compared to last year… It increased because last 2024, our total until January 6 was 65 patients, but we’ve already seen 66 as of January 1 and we are expecting it to increase over the next few days.)

Villamayor said their patients included both children and adults who mostly suffered burns or were passive victims.

There were also five patients with eye injuries, and patients who underwent amputations. — JMA, GMA Integrated News