• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOCPPO) Spokesperson PCapt. Judesses Catalogo confirmed the first firecracker-related injury in the province involved a minor and was recorded in La Carlota City.
The incident was reported on the evening of Sunday, where a 13-year-old victim reportedly placed the firecracker inside a condensed milk can while holding it away from his body at Eco Center Relocation Site, Paet, Barangay Butuan.
Upon detonation, the can burst and fragments struck the victim’s head, causing injuries. The victim was immediately given medical attention at Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital and is now in stable condition.
Catalogo said that the minor allegedly used a firecracker which was locally known as a “grenade.”
NOCPPO has urged the public, particularly parents, to prohibit their children from using firecrackers to avoid such incidents.
“We hope our parents will be aware of what their children are buying, particularly firecrackers; they must monitor it,” Catalogo said, citing that vendors who sell firecrackers without a permit will be held accountable.
Although there are no registered firecracker manufacturers in the province, authorities will intensify their monitoring at entry and exit points, particularly ports, to prevent the illegal importation of banned firecrackers.
Overweight firecrackers exceeding 0.2 grams, oversized firecrackers, and those with fuses that burn in less than three seconds are also prohibited.
This includes watusi, lolo thunder, boga, pla-pla, piccolo, goodbye Philippines, goodbye Delima, giant bawang, goodbye Napoles, atomic bomb, Bin Laden, super lolo, goodbye bading, super Yolanda, goodbye chismosa, and king kong.
The BFP has launched Oplan Paalala and Oplan Iwas Paputok, initiatives aimed at reducing firecracker-related incidents during the peak of the holiday celebrations.*
