SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) –The Department of Health – Ilocos Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 1) strongly urges the public to celebrate the coming holidays and festivities with alternative merry-making instruments instead of using harmful firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
DOH-CHD 1 affirms that Filipinos may still enjoy this Yuletide season without compromising the safety of their families and people in their communities.
Raymark Perreras, health education and promotions officer of DOH-CHD 1, said there are many alternative noisemaker tools to choose from, including whistles, torotot (horns), old pots or cauldrons, and drums.
“Aside from the alternative noisemaker tools possibly available at home, we can also practice the blowing of horns of cars or playing loud music in sound-emitting devices,” Perreras said during a recent episode of PIA’s Kapihan sa Ilocos.
He added, “For bright lights, we can also use the light sticks we typically see and use during concerts.”
The public may also participate in fireworks displays organized by local government units in their respective areas.
For fireworks displays, DOH reminds the public to enjoy the show at a distance and ensure that said activities are organized and monitored by the proper authorities.
Meanwhile, the Ilocos Region noted 230 fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) during the previous holiday season, from Dec. 21, 2023, to Jan. 4, 2024.
Said FWRI is 130 percent higher than the reported cases in the same period in 2022-2023. (AMB/CGCC, PIA Region 1)
