Health chief urges ban on 'boga' noise-maker

Alarmed not only by the rising number of injuries it has caused but also by its potential as a robbery weapon, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III onThursday proposed to outlaw the improvised noise-making instrument "boga" or "bazooka." Duque said he is recommending a ban on "boga" to the Philippine National Police (PNP)," citing that it has "evolved" more and moreinto something like an Armalite rifle. "Kung titingnan mo unti-unti nagmumukhang baril. Noong last year simple ang mechanism, ngayon meron nang gatilyo parang Armalite. Baka pwedeng gawin pang-holdup. Kailangan siguro ma-consider ng PNP ito tuluyang ipagbawal." (If you look closely at it, it is fast resembling a firearm. Last year it just had a simple mechanism. Now it comes complete with trigger. We fear it may be used for holdups soon. The PNP should seriously consider banning it)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. Duque said 20 percent of all fireworks-related injuries so far this year has been caused by the "boga," which his department had earlier touted as harmless. While there were only a few "boga" toys last year, the noise-maker could now be seen in virtually all streets. Even children are handling the "boga" as if it were a toy, he said. "Napakalaki ng PVC pipe, naenganyo ang tao maglagay kung anu-ano sa loob, magsisilbing bala. Kung tinutok mo sa tao hindi ito nagmimintis (The PVC pipe is so big that people will put anything in it as projectiles. If you aim it at someone it will not miss)," he said. Meanwhile, Duque said he will go around major government hospitals on New Year's Eve to inspect the readiness of doctors and nurses to deal with injuries. He said it was "sad" that despite the government's campaign for firecracker safety, the number of injuries has doubled, over the same period last year. - GMANews.TV