By Jennifer P. Rendon and Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 reported a significant decrease in firecracker- and boga-related incidents during the 2024 holiday season in Western Visayas.
Between December 16 and 6 a.m. on January 2, PRO-6 logged 183 cases, a sharp drop from the 297 incidents recorded during the same period last year.
Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, PRO-6 spokesperson, clarified that these figures represent reports received by police stations and may differ from data collected by the Department of Health (DOH).
Of the 183 cases, 146 involved firecracker-related injuries, while 37 were linked to boga, improvised PVC cannons.
For the first time, PRO-6 reported zero stray bullet incidents during the holidays.
In contrast, two stray bullet cases were recorded last year, though no injuries or fatalities occurred.
Solis attributed the decline to intensified police operations targeting illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics.
“Our personnel have been rigorous in checking permits and ensuring that vendors do not sell prohibited or unauthorized firecrackers,” Solis said.
Police conducted 190 operations, seizing PHP196,783 worth of illegal firecrackers.
Authorities and barangay officials also confiscated 426 boga during pre-New Year rounds.
Solis noted that increased public awareness of the dangers of illegal firecrackers and the availability of safer alternatives contributed to the decline in incidents.
Many residents opted for safer noise-making methods to welcome the New Year.
Despite these improvements, PRO-6 recorded three cases of illegal firearm discharge.
On December 29 at 11 p.m., a 35-year-old businessman in Barangay Punta Salong, Manapla, Negros Occidental, allegedly fired a warning shot to stop a commotion.
On December 30 at 7:30 p.m., a 66-year-old resident of Barangay Gustilo, La Paz, Iloilo City, was arrested for firing his gun.
On December 31 at 11:55 p.m., a 26-year-old security guard in Barangay Ilaud Poblacion, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, allegedly fired multiple shots at a parking sign at the establishment he was guarding.
Charges were filed against all suspects involved in these incidents.
DOH DATA
The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) recorded fewer fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) during the recent New Year’s season compared to last year.
Between 6 a.m. on December 21, 2024, and 5:59 a.m. on January 2, 2025, DOH-WV CHD logged 154 FWRI cases, a 29% decrease from the 218 cases recorded during the same period last year.
FWRI cases in non-sentinel sites dropped by 39%, from 187 last year to 115 this year.
However, cases in sentinel sites increased by 26%, from 31 to 39.
Sentinel sites are selected health facilities that collect data on specific health conditions.
The majority of injuries were blasts and burns without amputations (102), followed by eye injuries (42), blasts and burns with eye injuries but no amputations (6), and blasts and burns with amputations (4).
Boga caused the most injuries (41), followed by kwitis (20), camara (19), five star (19), triangle (18), whistle bomb (5), and bilong-bilong and candle bomb (2 each).
Other injuries involved homemade or unknown fireworks.
Negros Occidental recorded the highest number of FWRI cases (39), followed by Iloilo province (36), Aklan (23), Capiz (14), Bacolod City (13), Iloilo City and Antique (11 each), and Guimaras (7).
