The number of people injured by firecrackers in Muntinlupa rose to 33, including a five-year-old, up by 371 percent compared to the previous new year celebration.
Despite an ordinance prohibiting the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, scores of Muntinlupa residents defied the ban to welcome the new year.
In its final report, the Muntinlupa City Health Office Surveillance Team recorded 33 firecracker and pyrotechnic device-related injuries from Dec. 26 to Jan. 3.
This was a 371-percent increase compared to seven injuries recorded from the 2023-2024 new year celebration.
Of the total number of injured, 21 or 64 percent were male and 12 or 36 percent were female.
The youngest victim was five years old while the oldest was 58 years old, or an average of 22 years old.
Of the 33, nine, or 27 percent, were aged five to 10 years old, the highest among age brackets.
Firecrackers, pyrotechnic devices and "boga" confiscated by Muntinlupa authorities (Photos from the Muntinlupa City government)
Four were injured among 11 to 15 years old; five from 16 to 20; five from 21 to 25; three from 26 to 30; one from 31 to 35; three from 36 to 40; one each from 46 to 50, 51 to 55, and 56 to 60 years old.
The most common injuries by site were abrasion on the upper and lower extremities (19 cases or 58 percent), burns (eight cases or 24 percent), avulsion of hands (two cases or three percent), and eye irritation (two cases or three percent).
By type of firecracker and pyrotechnic devices, 10 were injured by Fountain; three by Kwitis; four by “mother of the whistle bomb”; one by Pla-pla and 15 by unknown fireworks.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon cited the case of a 10-year-old boy whose hand was blown up by Pla-pla that he picked up on Jan. 1. The boy was to undergo an operation on Jan. 3.
The left hand of a 10-year-old boy was blown up by a Pla-pla that he picked up on Jan. 1 in Muntinlupa (Photo from Mayor Ruffy Biazon)
The Muntinlupa City government and the Muntinlupa Police launched a campaign during the holiday season to deter people from using firecrackers, pyrotechnic devices and modified mufflers, which are all banned in the city under two ordinances.
In their report, the Muntinlupa Police under Col. Robert Domingo confiscated 12,547 pieces of firecrackers and 547 pieces of “boga” (improvised cannon)” amounting to P156,383.
Of the total firecrackers seized by the police, 2,451 pieces were Piccolo, 865 Poppop, 2,697 Five Star, 104 Pla-pla, 43 Giant Bawang, 105 Giant Whistle Bomb, 3,501 Judas Belt, 556 Kwiton and 2,225 other types for a total amount of P125,533.
The police also confiscated 547 “boga” valued at P30,850.
The firecrackers and "boga" were confiscated in all barangays in Muntinlupa: Tunasan, Putatan, Bayanan, Alabang, Sucat, Cupang, Poblacion, Ayala Alabang and Buli.
Ordinance No. 14-092 prohibits “the manufacture, display, 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 Muntinlupa City.”
In addition, the police also conducted 15 operations and apprehended 23 people for using modified mufflers and pipes in their vehicles with a total fine of P17,400 from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.
An operation conducted by the Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau (MTMB) against modified mufflers and pipes (Photo from the Muntinlupa City government)