Ni CHARINA CLARISSE L. ECHALUCE
Nakapagtala ang Department of Health (DoH) ng 68 porsiyentong pagbaba sa bilang ng firecracker-related injuries sa pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon nitong Linggol; humigit pa sa 50 porsiyentong taya sa pagbaba ng bilang ng mga mabibiktima ng paputok dahil sa nationwide firecracker ban.
“We are relatively pleased. Relatively because there are still injuries. But pleased because of the substantial reduction or decrease on fireworks-related injuries from December 21, 2017 to January 1, 2018, compared to the same period of the previous year. Also, 77 percent lower than the five-year – 2012 to 2016 – average,” sabi ni Health Secretary Francisco Duque III sa press conference sa East Avenue Medical Center sa Quezon City kahapon.
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“Total number of cases reached 191. Mababa po ito [ng 68 percent].... There is no reported stray bullet injuries,” sabi ni Duque.
Wala ring insidente ng pagkalunok ng paputok, at wala ring nasawi, ayon sa kalihim.
Una nang tinaya ni Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo na bababa ng 50% ang bilang ng inaasahang firecracker-related injuries para sa taong 2017 dahil sa umiiral nang nationwide firecrackers ban.
“Last year, we recorded a 32 percent reduction in injuries due to rumors that there will be a ban. So, this year we see further reduction of 50 percent now that the ban is already in place,” paliwanag ni Bayugo.
NAGPASALAMAT KAY DIGONG
Dahil sa pagtatala ng pinakakaunting bilang ng naputukan nitong Linggo, nagpasalamat si Duque kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa pagpapatibay ng Executive Order No. 28, o ang firecrackers ban.
“Overall, the government’s campaign against fireworks has reduced the number of injuries. The DoH is grateful for the strong cooperation of our local government units and other government agencies for this success,” ani Duque. “We would like to thank President Duterte for the passing of the Executive Order No. 28, which reinforced the efforts of the DoH and other concerned agencies such as the Department of Interior and the Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, and EcoWaste Coalition, among others.”
PINAKAMARAMI SA NCR
Pinakamarami pa rin ang naputukan sa Metro Manila o National Capital Region (NCR), na may 115, o 60%; sinundan ng Western Visayas, na may 15, o 8%; habang tig-13 kaso o 7% ang Bicol Region, Calabarzon, at Central Luzon.
“Manila had the most number of case, 63 cases; followed by Quezon City, 14; Pasig City, 11; and Valenzuela City, six,” ani Duque.
Pangunahing dahilan pa rin ng pagkakasugat sa paputok ang illegal firecracker na Piccolo, na nakabiktima sa 94 katao, o 49%.
Nasa 160 naputukan ay lalaki, habang pito ang naputulan ng bahagi ng katawan.
“Age cases ranged from 11 months to 69 years old. About 64 percent, 123 cases, were active users and about 77 percent, 148 cases, occured in the streets,” sabi ni Duque.
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