Photo: Asingan PIO 

MANILA, Philippines –  Even prior to the celebration of Christmas, the Department of Health has already logged 69 firecracker-related incidents nationwide from December 22 until 6 am of December 26. 

The data that came from 62 sentinel sites monitored by the DOH said 58 of the victims were 19 years old and below while 11 were 20 years old and above. Sixty-five of them were males while four were females. 

Fifty one (74%) of them have been actively using firecrackers and 59 (86%) of them were due to illegal firecrackers, particularly boga. 

Twenty-six cases were logged a day after Christmas – a significantly lower tally than the record same day last year.  

Boga is a cannon improvised from bamboo or from PVC pipe and whose use is prohibited, it usually remains the top cause for firecracker-related injuries during the celebration of New Year. 

Almost every year, whistle bomb, kwitis, 5-Star, and camara remain the top causes of injuries.

The DOH reminded the public to refrain from using firecrackers to celebrate the New Year.