ANTIQUE — The Office of the Provincial Health Officer (OPHO) in Antique recorded 22 firecracker-related injuries from December 21, 2025 to January 5, 2026, higher than the 20 cases logged during the same period last year and 19 cases two years ago.
Most of the injuries were blast or burn injuries without amputation, accounting for 18 cases, while four involved eye injuries. All patients were treated in various hospitals across the province.
OPHO data showed that Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital recorded the highest number of cases with eight, followed by Bugasong Medicare Community Hospital with six. Other cases were treated at Ramon Maza Sr. Memorial District Hospital with three, President Diosdado Macapagal District Hospital with two, and one case each at Culasi District Hospital, Justice Calixto O. Zaldivar Memorial Hospital, and Antique Medical Center.
By municipality, San Jose de Buenavista logged the most cases with six, followed by Bugasong with five. Anini-y, Belison, Laua-an, and Sibalom recorded two cases each, while Culasi, Libertad, and Patnongon had one case each.
Most of the victims were male with 18 cases, while four were female. The age group 11 to 20 recorded the highest number with seven cases, followed by children aged 1 to 10 with six cases.
The youngest victim was seven years old, while the oldest was a 64-year-old resident of Barangay Madrangca, San Jose de Buenavista, who injured his hand while lighting a triangle firecracker on December 26, 2025. He was treated the following day at Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital and later discharged.
Records further showed that 14 victims were actively involved in lighting firecrackers, while eight were passively injured. Only one patient required hospital admission, while 21 were treated and discharged as outpatients.
The most common firecrackers involved were boga with five cases, followed by kwitis or sky rockets, libentador or triangle, and whistle bombs with four cases each. Other injuries involved fountain or Roman candle with one case and one unidentified type.
Governor Paolo Javier urged the public to help reduce firecracker-related injuries in future New Year celebrations, especially by ensuring adult supervision of children.
“Parents should closely monitor their children, particularly since the youngest victim this year was only seven years old,” Javier said, adding that adults should also set a good example in the proper and responsible handling of firecrackers.
To prevent firecracker-related incidents, the Office of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (OPDRRMO) earlier conducted information drives and distributed information, education, and communication (IEC) materials on “Iwas Paputok, Road Safety, and Drowning Prevention,” and coordinated with other agencies in monitoring the situation during the holiday season./PN
