TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines - The Regional Office of the Department of the Health (DoH 7) is set to formally launch its intensive drive against the use of firecrackers during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. DoH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said her office is set to conduct meetings with local government units (LGUs), the police, and the Department of Education (DepEd) for the conduct of an intensive information drive on the hazards of firecrackers. Madarieta said the police, LGUs, and DepEd all play a vital role in the implementation of the information awareness program and in identifying areas that can be considered firecracker danger zones. The DoH 7 director said the information campaign aims to lower the incidence of firecracker-related deaths and injuries by eradicating the use of firecrackers in celebrating Christmas and New Year. The DoH 7 has been urging the public to refrain from the use of firecrackers to avoid accidents while celebrating the holidays.
Instead, the agency is asking the people to resort to traditional ways of merrymaking by using torotots (horns) and other such harmless noisemakers. Also rather than buying firecrackers that might cause harm, and even fatalities, the DoH advises the public to purchase food for families to feast on during Christmas and the New Year. There is an indication that similar information campaigns against the use of firecrackers might have had a positive impact as the DoH 7 has noted a decrease in firecracker-related cases in the region during the Yuletide season over the past three years. ''For the past three years, our data shows that holiday injuries, specifically during Christmas and New Year's have consistently dropped due to our serious, intensified campaign against the use of firecrackers,'' said Madarieta
