NATION

Firework-related injuries see 14% decrease

Gabriela Baron · Jan 5, 2026, 6:18 PM

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

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.