LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The Department of Health (DOH)-Bicol and the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) urged barangay officials in the region on Wednesday, December 27, to actively enforce the government's "Iwas Paputok" campaign this New Year celebration.
During the press conference on the Iwas Paputok campaign at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Hospital (BRHMH) here, Dr. Rose Rempillo, assistant director of DOH-Bicol, said that the success against fireworks-related injuries could be attributed to the participation of barangay officials.
"Hinihimok namin ang mga barangay officials at mga magulang na makipagtulungan sa kampanyang ito. Hindi naman namin kaya na kami-kami lang. Hindi kaya ng isang pulis na tutukan ang bawat isa. Ang maga barangay officials sila kasi ‘yung mga nandu-doon sa grounds. Sila ‘yung nakaka-kita kung anong mga activities meron ang ating mga kababayan," Rempillo said.
As of Wednesday, DOH-Bicol recorded eight cases of fireworks-related injuries in the region, 100 percent higher compared to the same monitoring period last year.
Rempillo said that six out of the eight cases were caused by "boga" or improvised cannon.
Camarines Sur had the highest number of cases with four followed by Naga City and Albay with one each.
Police Regional Office-5 Director Police Brig. Gen. Andre P. Dizon appealed to public officials to act against illegal firecrackers to avoid the potential surge of fireworks-related injuries during the New Year celebration.
"Sang-ayon tayo sa sinabi ni Director Rose (Rempillo) na kailangan natin ang tulong ng barangay officials. Kailangan nating mapagmatyag at magparticipate sa kampanya nating ito, kasi sila ang direktang nakaka-kilala at nakakakita ng mga constituents at yung mga pulis po natin ay kokonti lang," Dizon said.
Data showed that most boga victims are children and cases are passive, which means victims are not really handling the illegal noisemaker.
Dr. Eric Raborar, chief of BRHMH, said that boga wounds are a combination of contusions and burns which are a result of the user pointing the improvised cannon to the victim in purpose or a joke.
"It is a combination of contusion and burns. Malamang sa malamang ‘yung napapa-putok ay ihinarap po doon sa tinamaan. Either sinasadya or nagbibiruan pero malamang ay itinutok or nakatutok ‘yung dulo ng labasan. Close range po kaya may mga ganung injuries," he said.
Raborar said urged firecracker victims to immediately visit the nearest hospital or clinic for treatment.