BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Negros Occidental has attributed the high number of firecracker blast injuries in the province to loopholes in the regulation of firecracker selling.
As of Jan. 3, the PHO recorded 63 cases, higher than the figures gathered by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), said Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, PHO head.
Of these cases, 42 were considered “active” (they were the ones who held and lit the firecrackers) while 21 others were classified as “passive” (just watching or passing by).
PHO said the youngest firecracker victim was one year old while the eldest was 50 years old.
It added that most of the cases were aged one to 10 years old, comprising 42.9 percent of the injuries.
Tumimbang said there may have been problems regulating the sale and use of firecrackers.
For one, he said, it could not be ascertained if vendors only sold firecrackers cleared by the government.
He did not discount the possibility that banned firecrackers were peddled.
Tumimbang said there is a need to review the regulations in the sale and use of firecrackers, and law enforcement should be stricter in implementing them.
The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 earlier tagged Negros Occidental as having the highest number of firecracker blast injuries in Western Visayas./PN
