The Department of Health in the Negros Island Region reported 96 fireworks-related injuries between Dec. 21 and Jan. 2, with minors accounting for the majority of cases.
The DOH-NIR office based in Dumaguete City said that Negros Occidental topped the list at 59 cases, followed by Negros Oriental with 15, and Siquijor with two.
Of the total 96 cases, 62 involved minors.
The incidents included 64 cases of blast or burn injuries without amputation, 26 eye injuries, two blasts with eye injury, and four cases requiring amputation.
In contrast, the Philippine National Police reported zero firecracker-related incidents during the New Year’s Eve celebration..
Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said that police stations did not receive reports of injuries caused by firecrackers and pyrotechnics as people greeted the New Year.
Polinar, however, cited a report from DOH here that four people suffered minor burns days before the celebration.
The incidents were in La Libertad and Guihulngan with one each, and two cases in Bais City, where the victims were passersby.
He said these cases were not reported to the police but information was gleaned from the Rural Health Units where the victims were treated.
Also, the Bureau of Fire Protection in the Province said no fire incidents related to firecrackers and pyrotechnics were reported to their office, said Fire Officer Jason Pael of the Communications & Electronics division.
Meanwhile, Polinar said they destroyed illegal firecrackers like “poppop” on Tuesday morning, after these were seized from vendors.
Except for minor traffic incidents, the Province was “generally peaceful” as it welcomed the new year, the police official added.
Meanwhile, a fire of undetermined origin gutted a two-story residential and boarding house Thursday night in Dumaguete. The blaze also partially damaged an appliance center in the City’s downtown area.
BFP Fire Officer Michael Brian Culi said the fire began at the boarding house. No injuries were reported.
The fire, which was reported shortly after 10 p.m., was declared out 30 minutes later.
The BFP estimates initial damage at P500,000, though the cause and final figures remain under investigation. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
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Photo Caption: Revelers greet 2025 by watching the fireworks display from the Pantawan along Dumaguete’s Rizal Boulevard. (City PIO photo)
