BAGUIO CITY – The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) here said the feat of having zero firecracker-related injuries in the last two consecutive years was ended by two cases recorded as the country welcomed the new year.

In a phone interview on Monday, Aileen Refuerzo, chief information officer of the city government, said based on the report of the CESU under the Health Services Office, two persons were treated for injuries in the face and head on January 1.

She said the patients, both female, aged 34 and 43, sustained injuries caused by "kwitis".

She added that both cases were passive victims, meaning they were not the ones handling the firecracker that caused their injuries.

Refuerzo said the two were sent home after receiving emergency treatment in a medical facility here.

She recalled that the city did not have a firecracker-related injury in 2019 and 2020 during the period of surveillance from December 16 to January 6.

While the city government has not passed an ordinance banning the use of firecrackers, it has been implementing a total ban on the sale of firecrackers since the year 2000, which has helped lessen it not totally avoid firecracker-related injuries.

However, the city has been conducting a new year countdown and an organized fireworks display at Burnham Park, which is among the city’s open spaces where the fireworks are visible in many villages of Baguio. (PNA)