MANILA — Alarmed by a sharp rise in firecracker-related injuries, the Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday renewed its call for Filipinos to abandon personal fireworks and opt for safer alternatives as the country prepares to welcome the New Year.
The appeal came as the DOH formally launched its annual “Iwas Paputok” campaign in Valenzuela City, warning that last year’s holiday celebrations left hundreds injured—many of them children—due to the continued use of firecrackers, including illegal and unidentified types.
Data from the DOH–Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) showed that 422 firework-related injuries were recorded in the National Capital Region alone between December 21, 2024 and January 6, 2025, accounting for nearly half of the 843 cases logged nationwide during the same period. The figure was 31 percent higher than the previous year’s tally.
Health officials said the numbers underscore the persistent risks associated with firecracker use, particularly during New Year’s Eve celebrations, when children are often among the victims.
To prevent a repeat of last year’s injuries, the DOH urged the public to replace firecrackers with safer noisemakers such as torotot or horns, use light sticks, and watch fireworks only during organized community displays instead of lighting them individually.
DOH-MMCHD Regional Director Lester Tan said the injury figures serve as a reminder that holiday festivities can quickly turn tragic.
“Christmas is a time of joy and togetherness, but at the same time, there are also some mysteries that we should not forget. Every Holiday season, like Christmas, there are more and more accidents on the streets… There are incidents of injuries to the bones, and injuries to the skin, food, clothes, and clothing. These are not numbers that are far from us,” Tan said.
He stressed that each reported case represents a disrupted life and family.
“Although there is no exact number, every injury that we encounter in the fireworks is related to stories, children who cannot go to school because of a bone injury, families who are pregnant because their parents brought them to the hospital, and youth who lose their chance to live in peace and happiness. This is the reason why we celebrated the safe Christmas that you can see in front of you,” Tan said.
The DOH said preventing firecracker-related injuries remains a top public health priority during the holiday season, reiterating that welcoming the New Year safely is possible without risking lives and limbs. /PN
