ILOILO — The use of boga or improvised cannons continues to pose serious risks, especially to children, during the holiday season in Iloilo Province.
According to data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), three fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) were recorded in the province from December 19 to 25, 2025. Two of these cases were caused by boga, while one involved a pyrotechnic device called kamara.
“Currently, we have monitored three firework-related injuries in the province, including a patient from San Enrique,” said Rodney Labis, head of the Health Service Delivery Division at IPHO.
Details of the injuries
A five-year-old boy from San Enrique town sustained a severe eye injury from a boga on December 19 in Passi City. The incident left him blind in the affected eye.
Labis noted that this case is not included in the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6’s official monitoring of fireworks-related injuries, as the reporting period began on December 21.
Meanwhile, a nine-year-old boy from Cabatuan accidentally triggered a boga on December 21, resulting in injuries to his right eye. Upon examination at Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital, doctors found burned lower eyelashes and a minor abrasion on the upper part of his nose, but his vision was not affected. He received treatment and was discharged the same day.
Another incident involved a 15-year-old male from Alimodian who sustained minor burns on his left hand when a kamara exploded on December 25. He was treated at Aleosan District Hospital and released after outpatient management.
Labis warned that the number of fireworks-related injuries in the province could rise, as IPHO is closely coordinating with DOH-6 and monitoring sentinel hospitals such as the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC).
“Parents and guardians must ensure that children avoid using dangerous firecrackers, particularly illegal devices like boga, which can cause serious injuries or even fatalities,” Labis said.
He encouraged residents to follow government regulations and prohibited fireworks, and instead use safer alternatives such as banging pots, drums, or cans, playing sound systems, or joining organized community fireworks displays.
Under Executive Order 28 and Republic Act 7183, the following firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices are prohibited: 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 Delima, hello Columbia, goodbye Napoles, super Yolanda, mother rockets, king kong, kwiton, super lolo, goodbye bading, goodbye Philippines, bin Laden, coke-in-can, pilbox, kabasi, tuna, goodbye chismosa, dart bomb, GHP nuclear, and boga./PN
