GOODBYE 2025, HELLO 2026 Shoppers crowd Divisoria in Manila as they buy food, firecrackers, good luck charms, and round fruits ahead of New Year’s Day celebrations.
Photo by Toto Lozano for DAILY TRIBUNE
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There was a 14 percent decrease in firework-related injuries during the holiday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday, 5 January.
From 21 December 2025 to 5 January, the DOH logged 720 cases of FWRIs nationwide. This is 14 percent lower compared to the 834 cases recorded last year.
While DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa hailed it as a "good news," he vowed to not stop campaigning against the use of firecrackers until it becomes "zero injury."
"Tuloy-tuloy tayo. Hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi yan zero (We will continue. I won't stop until cases reach zero)," he said.
"Until may batang napuputulan ng daliri, public health problem pa rin siya (Until a child has their finger amputated because of firecrackers, it is still a public health problem," Herbosa added.
Age-wise, more than half, or 52 percent of the cases, were aged 19 years or below.
The most common firecrackers that caused injuries were kwitis, 5-star, whistle bomb, boga (PVC cannon pipe), and piccolo.
