Peaceful New Year in Region 7

Central Visayas greeted 2018 peacefully but at least eight people were injured by firecrackers in Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu.

Supt. Elmer Lim, deputy city director for operations of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), said six people were wounded in four separate incidents in Barangays Maribago, Gun-ob, Pajo and Agus.

In Mandaue City, two were injured in separate incidents in Barangays Pagsabungan and Maguikay, said Supt. Jimmy Aguisanda.

The whistle bomb, bingala, judas belt, and pyrotechnics are said to be the main culprits of the injuries.

Among the firecrackers used by many are the piccolo (the most used firecracker leading to injury), kwitis, sky rocket, judas belt, bingala, bamboo cannon, and candy bomb.

On New Year's Eve alone, the Lapu-Lapu City police confiscated firecrackers and pyrotechnics worth P8,000 in Barangay Poblacion.

No similar incident was recorded in Cebu City.

"Negative ra man. Walay recorded nga nadisgrasya, wala sa'y report sa indiscriminate firing," said Nagiel Bañacia, head of the city's disaster team.

Based on combined records of the police and the Department of Health, only 54 cases were recorded in the entire Region 7 this year, compared to last year's 63.

Three incidents involving stray bullets were recorded regionwide but no one was hurt in these incidents.

In Cebu, the number of firecracker-related incidents from December 16, 2017 to January 1, 2018 reached 44, compared to 42 from the same time period last year, but the cases this time involved only “smaller” firecrackers. Because of this, no one was amputated despite the injuries.

This also means that the government's campaign against firecrackers has been effective, said Supt. Reyman Tolentin, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7.

“Effective kay unlike before nga daghan kaayo nalandig sa tambalanan nabuthan (and) naputlan," Tolentin said.

He admitted, nevertheless, that

implementing President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Number 28, was a challenge.

"Once mobuto na, managan na man… Only (to) conduct post-investigation, imo pang i-gather ang remnants sa pabuto… lisud sad sya maprove mao nang di gyud madakpan in flagrante (in the act)," Tolentin said.

In June last year, Duterte signed EO No. 28 regulating the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

"It is allowed by the municipality/city concerned through a permit specifying the date and time of the fireworks display and the specific area in which the display will be conducted, in conformity

with national standards, rules and regulations," the order reads.

Even with the EO in place, many would still choose to follow tradition.

“Maskin pa naa na ang law, gahi kay'g ulo ang mga tao kay tradition man gud mo gamit ug firecrackers kung hapit na New Year. Naa man ta designated firecracker zones and yet, dili gihapon sila mo sunod,” said Dr. Rennan Cimafranca, chief of DOH-7's Response Emergency Services Unit (RESU).

Nationwide, there was a 68 percent decrease in firecracker injuries from December 21, 2017 to January 1, 2018, with 191 cases, 115 of them from Metro Manila.