CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – A total of 93 firecracker incidents in Central Visayas were recorded as of 6:00 a.m. on Jan 2, 2025 by the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7.
This is 12 percent higher than the 83 cases recorded in the same period in the previous year.
According to DOH-7, Cebu logged the highest number of cases at 39, while 7 were recorded in Bohol, and 2 each in Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
For the highly urbanized cities, there were 18 cases reported in Cebu City, 14 in Lapu-lapu City, and 5 in Mandaue City.
According to PRO-7 spokesperson Lt. Col. Janet Rafter, two deaths resulting from firecracker incidents were recorded this year.
A 23-year-old resident of Barangay San Roque in Asturias, Cebu, was declared dead on arrival after sustaining severe injuries to his face caused by a firecracker called “bombshell.”
The other incident involved a 10-year-old child in Barangay Cadulawan, Talisay City, Cebu who used a firecracker called “Goodbye Philippines.”
“We have a campaign na among gi-tawag ni sa PNP na (that we call in the PNP as) Ligtas Paskuhan , which covers from Dec. 18, 2024 to Jan. 6, 2025. Unfortunately, we have recorded two incidents that resulted in the ultimate deaths of the victims. Both incidents came from Cebu Province.”
Rafter said the Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations in the region were largely peaceful. (ZCL/PIA7)
