BAGUIO City finally attained zero firecracker-related injury from December 21, 2018 until the New Year celebration.
Baguio Health Department (BHD) head Rowena Galpo lauded the community for achieving such goal.
“It took us about five to six years to achieve our goal in having a zero case of firecracker related injuries and we are hoping that this would continue,” Galpo said.
Baguio City recorded five firecracker-related injuries in 2016 and three in 2017.
“If there would be cases to recorded from today until the end of our surveillance period on Sunday, we encourage to first wash the injuries with soap and water to prevent infection before proceeding to the nearest hospital or health center,” Galpo added.
She lauded the entire community for celebrating Christmas and New Year in ways other than lighting up firecrackers.
“Congratulations to all of us, the community who were one with us in achieving a zero firecracker related injuries. We hope that this would be internalized, the use of firecrackers have no positive contribution to us but instead contributes to having injuries,” Galpo said.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan also lauded the city’s achievement of zero firecracker-induced-injury target for the 2018 Christmas and 2019 New Year revelry.
“We are happy that the city’s effort to prevent the selling of these firecrackers bore fruit and we achieved our target of zero casualty this year and of course we credit this also to the public for their cooperation to our program,” the mayor said.
The mayor said there were those who attempted to circumvent the city’s campaign and attempted to sell some of the prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices underground but this was thwarted by authorities.
Domogan expressed hope with the positive outcome, the city council can finally approve an ordinance mandating a total ban on the sale and use of these devices in the city.
“It has been our clamor for many years now and with this achievement now, I hope that the city council will now realize the value of totally banning the sale and use of these firecrackers,” he said.
Baguio City has passed an ordinance banning the sale and use of certain firecrackers but the mayor hoped that a total ban on the sale, distribution and manufacture of all such devices will be adopted to ensure safe celebrations.
The city government mounted its own community fireworks display at the Melvin Jones, Burnham Park last Dec. 31 in compliance with the directive of the national government for local governments to authorize a centralized area for fireworks display to minimize risk of injuries and casualties during the merrymaking. (With PR)