TWO firecracker-related injuries in the Davao Region were recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) Davao from December 21, 2019, to January 2, 2020.
DOH Davao director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said Thursday that they have received report of two individuals who have sustained injuries in the areas of Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur. This data is lower as compared to the seven cases from December 21, 2018, to January 5, 2019.
A seven-year-old resident of Talaingod, Davao del Norte was rushed to Davao Medical Regional Center’s (DMRC) on Christmas eve, December 24 after he was injured due to a bamboo canon. Based on the diagnosis, he sustained conjunctival abrasion on his left eye secondary to blasting injury.
On January 1, 2020, a 33-year-old man in Digos City sustained a blast injury from an Roman Candle in Barangay Igpit, Digos City. The victim, who sustain an injoury on his right hand, was brought to Digos Doctors Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Chief of Clinics and Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) coordinator Dr. Ricardo Audan bared on Thursday that during the New Year celebration, they have not received patients who sustained firecracker-related injuries in Davao City.
“Fortunately wala po tayo kahit na neighboring provinces wala kaming na-receive na mga firecracker injuries,” he said.
He added that for over a decade, Davao City maintained zero firecracker-related injuries. Although they received patients in previous years but these are from Samal Island and Digos City.
Audan said City Ordinance 060-02, which bans firecrackers and pyrotechnics in all forms in Davao City, contributed to the zero casualties during the holiday season.
The ordinance, passed in 2002, prohibits the “manufacture, sale, distribution, possession or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices and such other similar devices and the exploding of firecrackers or other similar explosives within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City.”
Individuals caught manufacturing, selling, distributing or using prohibited firecrackers may be fined between P20,000 and P30,000 and/or face imprisonment of up to one year.
Although there were no reported injuries related to firecracker, Audan said that their record shows a significant number of vehicular accidents at 64 from December 31, 2019, to January 1, 2020. He attributed to alcohol intake and lack of sleep.
Firecracker ban violations
The Police Regional Office (PRO) Davao reported that two personalities were arrested after violating the firecracker ban in Davao City.
The suspects were identified as Daniel Clarito Carbajal, 18, a grade 12 student and Renel Saging Labrador, 19 years old, male, out of school youth both were residents of Purok 1, Barangay Tugbok Proper, Tugbok Dist., Davao City.
Based on the report, around 12:50 a.m. on January 1, the two suspects were caught in the act using the improvised cannons while the police were conducting a patrol to implement the firecracker ban. Confiscated from the suspects were two improvised cannon made of PVC pipe and Tin cans and one small spray plastic bottle of flying tiger liquid. (JCR)