Duque appeals to Pinoys to use safe noisemakers as firecracker injuries reach 22

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday urged Filipinos to turn to safer noisemakers instead to welcome the New Year, as firecracker-related injuries reached 22.

"Maaaring gumamit ng ibang pampa-ingay sa pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon gaya ng torotot, kaldero," Duque said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

The Health secretary also said Filipinos may go watch community fireworks instead of lighting their own firecrackers.

"Kung may community fireworks display, maaari na lamang po itong saksihan... O mag-street party na lang," he said.

"Maging mapanuri din tayo sa ating pagdiriwang ng Bagong Taon," Duque added.

Duque: Maging mapanuri din tayo sa ating pagdiriwang ng Bagong Taon. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 27, 2019

"Matindi ang dinudulot nitong (mga paputok) peligro o disgrasya," he said.

Firecracker-related injuries shot up to 22 on Friday, from the 19 cases recorded on Thursday.

One of the victims was a 7-year-old boy in General Trias, Cavite who lost an index finger after picking up a firecracker he assumed was spent.

Duque said however that the number of firecracker-related injuries has decreased compared to previous years.

The 22 injuries recorded from Dec. 21 to 5:59 a.m. of Dec. 27 is still lower by 35% than the 34 listed in 2018, he said.

The said number of 22 injuries is also lower by 79-80% of the five-year average of 103 injuries, he added.

"Thankfully, wala naman nasawi at wala namang nakaroon ng ingestion ng paputok. Wala rin tayong straight bullet incident," Duque said of this month's cases.

He added that government hospitals are ready to attend to firecracker injuries.

"Nakahanda na ang mga gagamitin sa pang-opera sa mga biktima ng paputok," Duque said.

Regarding a total ban on firecrackers, the Health secretary said the government cannot push for it since many will lose jobs.

"Hindi natin basta-basta maisusulong ang total ban sa paputok dahil maraming mawawalan ng hanapbuhay o trabaho," Duque said. —KG, GMA News