The Department of Health (DOH-10) is spearheading the campaign on Oplan Iwas Paputok as the region prepares to greet the New Year.
Together with the regional task force and local government of Cagayan de Oro, Dr. David Mendoza, chief, Local Health Support Division of DOH emphasized their role in the task force is on the surveillance side.
“We have now created fireworks related injury,” he said. With this surveillance system, Mendoza said, we will be monitoring the use of fireworks, type being used and injuries related to fireworks. This will transcend to policy and to be implemented later with our partner agencies, he added.
“Kung nabuthan, na samdan, adto ta sa among mga hospitals. Ang amo is more on human health. – If you are injured, go to our hospitals. We are on human health,” he said.
He also emphasized that their goal for next year is zero casualties.
“It is really possible,” he said.
One, there should be cooperation of agencies involved. Two, based on the previous trends from the previous year’s up to last year, there had been a decrease of injuries. In 2017, we had 62% decrease in the number of cases of firework related injury, Mendoza said.
In 2016, we had 28 injuries and in 2017, only 10, he added.
“Ang atong tumong og tinguha is how can we sustain nga munaog na? – Our goal is how can we sustain that the numbers will still go down?” Mendoza reiterated.
He added, in terms of readiness of our hospitals, “Bahalag ma desgrasya basta dili mamatay. – No matter the person gets injured, as long as he or she will not die.” All our hospitals, government or private should be ready.
Northern Mindanao Medical Center, here, has a special lane for fireworks related injury to ensure zero casualty. “Mag saba-saba ta using all kinds of saba except pabuto.”
Based on the law, there are only select kinds of fireworks allowed for use. Mendoza revealed, it is very small and it is an illegal firecracker but still the number one cause of injury during Yueltide season, Picolo. Next is Kwitis.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Jane Docallos, also shared they have identified a specific area in the city allowed solely for the trade of fireworks and firecrackers in the city at Rodelsa/Rotunda area.
She reiterated, there are two types of illegal selling of fireworks either they don’t have a special permit or they are selling an illegal item.
The task force in Cagayan de Oro, she announced will have surprise raid. We are also requesting retailers to tell us if there are other retailers selling illegal firecrackers.
DILG has allowed brgy. Tanods with the help of the police to confiscate the items. Among the problems is that these illegal firecrackers have been included to sell in the sar-sari store, Docallos said.
In Cagayan de Oro, there are no firecrackers manufacturers here, she said. Most likely they are from Bukawi Bulacan, maybe also from Bohol, Ilio-ilo and some parts of Cebu. But we make sure that what are sold in the market should be from authorized or licensed manufacturers. (pia x)
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