DOH-12 lists zero f'cracker injuries in Cotabato City 43 in Region 12

COTABATO CITY – For the second consecutive year,
this city recorded zero firecracker related injuries during the Christmas and
New Year revelry, officials today said.

Indeed, it is a happy New Year in Cotabato City,
Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said of the successful campaign to make the city
free from firecracker related injuries and free from stray bullet injuries.

I am proud to inform all my fellow Cotabatenios
that for two years in a row, we have recorded zero firecracker and stray bullet
injuries, she said in her FB posts on New Year’s Day.

Guiani-Sayadi, who personally roamed around the city
hours before the New Year in neutralizing law violators, lauded the law
enforcers, police, Task Force Kutawato, police force multipliers, barangay
officials, city health office and Department of Health and the public in
general, for the successful campaign.

And of course, to the law abiding citizens of
Cotabato City…I hope this will continue throughout the year so that we will
always welcome the new year with peace and security, she said.

To those who were apprehended by our Ronda Team, I
hope you learn your lesson…We have, time and again, reminded everyone that
Cotabato City is strictly implementing every law that we have, she added.

She said what is banned and prohibited will always
be banned and prohibited today and will always be forever banned unless the law
is changed.

Let us all welcome with open arms the year 2018 and
be ready to face whatever our future holds, Guiani-Sayadi said.

Dr. Frank Mateo, DOH-12 assistant regional director,
lauded the city officials and law enforcers for the successful campaign that
started on December 21 last year until January 5.

This is what we have in mind in this campaign…if
Cotabato City can do it, I can see no reason why other LGUs could not, he told
DXMS-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal.

Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director,
also lauded all stakeholders in the DOH’ Iwas Paputok campaign

I would like to everyone, this is not a police accomplishment,
we don’t claim credit, it was our concerted efforts that we have no casualty
during the revelries, Octavio said.

We have not monitored anyone who used a gun to
welcome the New Year and we have not received complaint about indiscriminate
firing, he said.

In Region 12, Jenny Ventura, DOH-12 Iwas Paputok
focal person, said as of January 2, 43 persons were injured due to firecrackers
despite massive information campaign.

However, Ventura said, the number is 10 percent
lower as compared to the same period last year.
Monitoring started on Dec. 21 and will end Jan. 5.

South Cotabato has the highest number of firecracker
victims during the period with 31 followed by North Cotabato with five, Sarangani
with four, Gen. Santos City with two and Sultan Kudarat with one victim.

Ventura noted that of the total number of victims,
39 were males and four females. Of the
number, 26 were children and 17 adults.
She added that most of the victims sustained injuries inside their homes,
14 had it on the street and five in other areas.

Of the 43 victims, 29 were active users or they were
the ones who set off the firecracker while 14 were passive or not involved but
were hit by the explosives.

Notably, according to Ventura, were the cases of eye
injuries to at least 12 victims which indicated that the firecracker exploded
close to the victims’ faces. One victim,
on the other hand, had an amputated toe due to serious injuries.

Ventura said 17 of the victims used legal
firecrackers while 26 used the illegal ones like kwitis, fountain, piccolo,
5 star, boga, and triangle. Fourteen of the victims used piccolo.

Thirty-two of the victims were sent home, one
refused admission, four were admitted and six others referred to bigger
hospitals.

Ventura and Dr. Mateo both noted that this year’s
victims were still lower as compared to the same period last year with 50
firecracker victims. (Edwin O. Fernandez)