Firecracker victims in Region 12 rise to 40

KORONADAL CITY -- The number of firecracker victims in Region 12 continue to rise but health officials are convinced the figure is still fewer as compared to last year's monitoring of blast victims. The good thing is that nobody was a victim of stray bullets, said Jenny Ventura, Department of Health (DOH-12) focal person on firecracker victims monitoring system. On the 13th day of monitoring, registered at Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS) in Region 12 rose to 40. Still this is 75 percent lower as compared to the same 13-day morning period last year, Ventura said. DOH monitoring started on Dec. 21 and will end on Jan. 5. Of the 40 listed victims, 36 were males and four females aged 4-56 years old. Thirty were active users of firecrackers while 10 passive. Ventura said South Cotabato remained to have the highest number of blast victims, mostly by the banned piccolo with 23, followed by Gen. Santos City (6), Sarangani (4), North Cotabato (3), Sultan Kudarat (3) and one in Cotabato City. Except for one, all other victims were outpatient. When asked why the number was rising, Ventura explained that not all hospitals have so far reported to ONEISS or some blast victims did not submit themselves for medication and opted for home treatment. She added that the number my still increase until January 5, the last day of monitoring. Police Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr, speaking for police in Region 12 said it received no complaint of any indiscriminate firing by a police officer or soldier in the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kukdarat, Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos.