Some children still play with piccolo firecracker despite gov't ban

Piccolo, the top culprit in firecracker-related injuries in the Philippines, remains available in the market despite the government's ban.

A report by Tina Panganiban-Perez on Balitanghali said children have been seen "playing" with piccolo despite the prohibition.

The report said, however, it was not still clear where children buy the banned firecracker, which police have said is usually smuggled from China.

The report featured Glenda Campillanes, who had related her child's experience with piccolo.

"Piccolo. Nakaupo lang siya dito sa bike. Hinagisan siya, wala siyang ano eh tsinelas... naiwan. Tumalon siya sa bike. Takbo siya nang walang direksyon so 'yung mga bata hinabol ko talaga, pinagalitan ko," said Campillanes.

Lyndon Lee Suy, spokesperson of the Department of Health (DOH), said piccolo is still the number cause of firecracker-related injuries.

"Piccolo pa rin ang number one natin, bata tapos 'di naman talaga alam kung paano gamitin ito," said Lee Suy.

Piccolo is a small and thin cylindrical firecracker, lit the same way as a match.

The DOH said that as of 6 a.m. of December 26, it has recorded 29 firecracker-related injuries. It said the number is 59 percent lower compared to the recorded cases record during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) said it has prepared for firecracker-related casualties as early as October.

"Naka-code white na tayo, meaning lahat naman ng staff natin on-call na sila within the vicinity of the hospital. As for the equipment, para sa ating mga supplies, since October pa naman nag-iipon na tayo ng mga kailangang gamitin," said Paula Zurbano, emergency medicine resident at the EAMC.

Zurbano reiterated the danger of using firecrackers in welcoming the New Year.

"Worse comes to worst, maputulan tayo ng kamay, ng paa... extremities. Kung makain puwedeng makamatay," he said.

Lee Suy, meanwhile, urged people to just use alternative noise-making devices to welcome the New Year.

"Maraming pamamaraan, marami tayong klaseng ingay na pwedeng gawin na masasalubong natin ang Bagong Taon na mas masaya at mas panatag ang kaisipan natin," added Suy.

The DOH, meanwhile, welcomed the police's designation of firecracker zones and fireworks display zones around Metro Manila.

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday released the list of firecracker zones and fireworks display zones around the metro.

The release of the list is in accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order No. 28, which aims to regulate and control the use of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices.

The executive order allows the use of fireworks and firecrackers in areas designated by local authorities. —Anna Felicia Bajo/ALG, GMA News