ILOILO City – A five-year-old boy from the Component City of Passi in Iloilo Province was left blind in one eye after a homemade firecracker known as boga (improvised handheld cannon) exploded near his face, an incident that health officials say underscores why the illegal device remains a leading cause of fireworks-related injuries among children in Western Visayas.
Boga is most commonly fashioned from PVC pipes or bamboo. It uses a mixture of pressurized air and fuel (like denatured alcohol, paint thinner, or kerosene) ignited to create a loud booming sound.
The child was injured on December 19 while playing outside their house in Barangay Agdahon with his 10-year-old brother and a seven-year-old neighbor.
Police said the older sibling was holding the boga and accidentally pointed it toward the boy’s face when it suddenly detonated.
According to Police Captain Ma. Rosario Miranda, deputy chief and public information officer of the Passi City Police Station, the child sustained severe eye injuries and was rushed to a hospital in Iloilo City, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Doctors later confirmed that the boy lost vision in his right eye and may require an eye donor for a possible transplant.
The incident prompted renewed warnings from the Department of Health (DOH) – Western Visayas Center for Health Development, which said boga continues to significantly contribute to the region’s fireworks-related injuries, particularly among young children.
“In the past years, boga has had a large contribution to the increase in fireworks-related injuries in the region, and those most often injured are young children,” said Dr. Fritzi Jeroso-Dequito, Medical Officer III of DOH Region 6.
She stressed that children aged one to 10 years old remain the most affected age group, often suffering burns or blast injuries that require medical attention.
“Parents are really our primary target audience in the Iwas Paputok campaign because they are the decision-makers in the household and they are the ones who buy firecrackers,” Dequito said. “However, children aged one to 10 years old are naturally very curious. They are often the ones who end up lighting or experimenting with firecrackers.”
Health officials noted that adolescents are also at risk due to peer pressure and thrill-seeking behavior.
“For adolescents, we want them to understand that they can still have a safe and healthy holiday season even without lighting firecrackers,” Dequito added.
The DOH has begun monitoring fireworks-related injuries through the Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS) until January 6, 2026, as New Year celebrations approach. From 2022 to 2024, the highest number of such injuries were recorded in Negros Occidental, now part of the Negros Island Region.
Authorities reiterated that the use of boga is illegal under Republic Act No. 7183, or the Firecrackers Law, and Executive Order No. 28, series of 2017.
Police said they are continuing to investigate the Passi City incident and will interview the child’s parents once the family is ready, while health officials urged the public to avoid illegal fireworks to prevent further injuries during the holidays.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has released a comprehensive list of 31 prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, warning that violators face confiscation, hefty fines, and possible criminal charges as authorities tighten enforcement across Western Visayas.
The list included boga.
PRO-6 said the list should serve as a clear guide for both consumers and vendors to avoid banned items.
Aside from boga, other prohibited firecrackers are Watusi, Piccolo, Poppop, Five Star (Big), Pla-Pla, Lolo Thunder, Giant Bawang, Giant Whistle Bomb, Special, Atomic Bomb, Atomic Triangle, Large-Size Judas Belt, Goodbye De Lima, Hello Columbia, Goodbye Napoles, Super Yolanda, Mother Rockets, King Kong, Kwiton, Super Lolo, Goodbye Bading, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, Coke-In-Can, Pillbox, Kabasi, Tuna, Goodbye Chismosa, Dart Bomb, and GHP Nuclear.
“The public are advised to purchase and use only certified Philippine Standard fireworks and firecrackers from registered retailers and dealers,” PRO-6 said, stressing that compliance with the law is key to a safe, peaceful, and injury-free Christmas celebration.
Authorities also urged residents to report the sale or use of illegal firecrackers and any suspicious activities by dialing 911 or contacting the following police provincial office (PPO) hotlines:
* Aklan PPO – 0998-598-6108
* Antique PPO – 0998-598-6130
* Capiz PPO – 0918-962-6477
* Guimaras PPO – 0998-598-6180
* Iloilo PPO – 0999-529-8131
* Iloilo City PO – 0908-377-0194
* Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 – 0998-598-7409
* PRO-6 Regional Hotline – 0998-598-6101/PN
