Preparations for the New Year celebrations include the Department of Trade and Industry saying it has intensified its monitoring of fireworks being offered for sale to the public, as the Department of Health has not yet released data on fireworks-related injuries (FWRI), which typically surge before and after New Year’s Day.
Last year, the DOH recorded a 50 percent rise in FWRIs from December 21, 2023 to January 5, 2024, compared to its previous surveillance period. The DOH final report said that 609 individuals were hurt due to firecrackers, which is almost twice the 307 cases logged during the same period of 2023.
There has been no report released so far, but fewer injuries are apparently reported.
This year, the authorities are focusing on suppliers of fireworks instead. Two weeks ago, Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque urged consumers to purchase only certified fireworks to guarantee safe and worry-free celebrations.
The DTI response came after legal firecracker manufacturers appealed for stricter enforcement against the sale of uncertified products, which they say impacts their livelihood. It assured constant coordination with the Philippine National Police, particularly in gathering and sharing information on where the uncertified products might be found.
The DTI-FTEB is also working with local governments to enforce ordinances and designate areas for display and sale of certified firecrackers and fireworks, while the Bureau of Philippine Standards has published a comprehensive list of fireworks on the DTI website. The Department of Labor and Employment has been reminding establishments in the pyrotechnics industry to strictly adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
Fireworks, firecrackers and the holidays have always come hand in hand, and although the degree of usage and resulting accidents have decreased over the years, it remains among the threats of spending the holidays in the Philippines. Hopefully our government is making progress when it comes to reducing the chances for accidents to happen.*
